A good landscaping choice for a difficult yard is the Canadian Hemlock. There are several reasons why people like to use the tree in their yards. The two main ones are that the tree can be trained and trimmed to be the size the yard owner wants it to remain. The other major draw to using Canadian Hemlock is it's ability to grow well whether in the shade or sitting in full sun. Unlike many other plants and shrubs, the Hemlock is able to do well in a variety of pH soil levels. This makes it easy to place in any area of a person's yard.



Though the tree hails from eastern Canada, it also does well in the eastern half of North America as well. It can be recognized in the area by it's full foliage which gracefully branches down to the ground around it. That foliage can spread around the tree anywhere from 25 feet to as big as 40 feet. A lot of the size difference depends on how it has been trimmed as well. While the upper side of the smallish needles on the Canadian Hemlock's stems are a rich dark green in color, the bottom side shows a green much lighter in tint.

Many homeowners and professional landscapers prefer using the tree since it makes an easy addition to many different yard plans. Certain varieties of Canadian Hemlock can also be planted along with other fragrant shrubs to give off a fresh and vibrant scent to the area. Good choices to plant along with the Hemlock are shrub type plants which will stand strong along with the smaller bushes are Lavender, and Woody Sage. The tiny varieties can make a wonderful separator between garden areas and lawns, and the larger ones can really provide a home owner with privacy in their yards as well.

Another aspect of having a tree planted in a yard is going to be the mess it will make. The Hemlock makes much clean up trouble than many other varieties of pine trees or hedges that could be planted. This is due to the needles being sized quite smaller than regular pines and the two year development of the cones. This brings up one of two drawbacks to the tree. First, the tree is very slow growing. Because of this, using them as any type of screen will take much longer than other planting options. Also, the tree will not be able to survive very long and has the potential to fall and cause damage if planted as screen for the side of the road.

With all of the positives considered, the hardy tree is good idea when looking to plan a yard or outside area. Good soil drainage is best for the tree, but it will grow in just about any area or condition. Whether it is a business or a home looking to spruce up their area, the Canadian Hemlock will do a lot to make it look great.