How to Identify and Care for an Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock

The Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a low maintenance evergreen tree. It “weeps” and has an irregular growth habit. The cultivar is Abbott’s Weeping and it is from the pinaceae family. It thrives in zones 4 to 8, and the AHS heat zone has not been defined for this tree. It likes a sand and clay mixture of mostly sand with a pH of 5 to7. It tends to have shallow roots.

Instructions

1. Identify the Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock by its cone shape and dark green foliage. The foliage weeps (hangs down like a weeping willow). This tree can grow up to 40 feet tall and 15 feet wide. It does not produce flowers, therefore does not have a blooming season.

2. Plant the Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock in an area where there is sun to full sun (sun is up to six hours of sun per day; full sun is over six hours of sun per day). Create a water ring around the circumference of the planting hole. This will help direct the water to the outside edges, which encourages root growth.

3. Keep this Hemlock watered with at least 1 inch of water per week. It should be watered deeply, to be sure the water reaches all of the roots. Be careful not to over water the Hemlock, causing water-logged soil. If the water is not draining properly around the tree due to a high water table, you may need to install an underground drainage system.

4. Fertilize the Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock once every few years. Since it is a tree, it does not need to be fertilized every year. When the tree is young, use a fertilizer that has phosphorus in it, as this will help root growth and development. Once the tree is established, you can switch to a good all-around tree fertilizer. Test the soil for nutrients prior to fertilizing. If it is missing something, you can use a fertilizer based on the missing nutrient.

5. Prune the Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock by pinching the stem tips of the plant when young. This helps promote branching, and will eliminate the need for heavier pruning later on. If it needs to be thinned in certain places, you can thin those areas by cutting whole branches back to the trunk. Make sure to always remove old, dead branches, as this helps keep pests and disease at bay.

Tips & Warnings

• The Abbott's Weeping Canadian Hemlock is deer and rabbit resistant.

• Shallow roots mean they need protection from wind and drought.