We have a mature hemlock that has been living next to a similar sized maple. We removed the maple and now we have a half bare hemlock. Now that it has more space and light, any chance it will fill in? The bare half has what looks to be dead limbs.
I've got a chunk of property that is like this. It was unmanaged for years and the Maples shot up to 140' or so to match the Doug Fir and Hemlock. Most of the Maples were dead at the top. Some I topped at 40' or so, and oddly they all lived an have branched out just fine. The Fir and Hemlock are doing much better now as well, but all the growth is at or near the tops. Nothing has regrown in the understory.
It is unlikely that they will fill in. While this happens to hardwood trees, the same can't be be said about softwoods (to my knowledge).
I would say no. Than there is also a chance that hemlock might even get sun burned. The maple was shading it and now it's out in the open.
No. But, the new growth from the top will spread out, but only the new height growth. Hemlock does not have epicormic (adventicious) buds in the bark like hardwood, so there will be no new sprouts from the section of the trunk with the dead limbs.
Thanks everyone. I'm considering planting a conifer (white/red pine) nearby to fill in, is this a good idea? If so, any thoughts on distance away from the hemlock? I'm guessing the hemlock is around 50' tall.
Plant it as close as you like but keep in mind the mature size of your tree. As your conifer grows it will most likely fill in that spot but if you lose either tree you will have the same problem again. ::)