How to Plant Your Eastern Hemlock Sapling

Tips for Planting and Maintaining a Healthy Eastern Hemlock

Thank you for participating in our community event! Your new eastern hemlock seedling is a native evergreen that grows naturally in the cool, shaded stream valleys of Virginia and Maryland. With its soft, graceful needles and year-round color, a hemlock makes a beautiful screen, specimen, or woodland tree. Hemlocks are a bit particular about where they grow, so use these tree planting tips to give your seedling the best possible start.

  • 1

    Choose the Perfect Location

    • Plant in partial shade. Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal, and a north- or east-facing spot works well.
    • Avoid hot, sunny, or windy locations, which can scorch and dry out the needles.
    • Choose moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil that is rich in organic matter.
    • Avoid low spots where water sits after rain.
    • Plan for the tree's mature size. Hemlocks can grow 40–70 feet tall and 25 feet or more wide, so give your seedling plenty of room away from buildings and power lines.
    • Plant your seedling as soon as possible to ensure survival.

  • 2

    Plant Your Eastern Hemlock

    • Dig a hole at least 1 foot wider than your seedling's roots.
    • Point the roots straight down and avoid bending them upward like a "J."
    • Plant at the same depth the seedling was growing. Don't bury the stem.
    • Fill the hole with a mix of rich soil and existing soil.
    • Add 2–3 inches of mulch, keeping it away from the trunk.
    • Protect your seedling with a sleeve or small cage. Deer love hemlocks and can quickly browse a young tree to the ground.

  • 3

    First-Year Care

    • Water deeply 1–2 times weekly in spring, summer, and fall.
    • Hemlocks have shallow roots and dislike drought, so don't let the soil dry out.
    • If fall is dry, give your seedling a deep watering before the ground freezes to help prevent winter needle burn.

  • 4

    Long-Term Care

    • Water during extended dry periods, especially in summer. Hemlocks are more drought-sensitive than most trees.
    • Maintain a mulch ring using shredded bark, pine bark, or wood chips.
    • Keep the mulched area free of grass and weeds.
    • Prune lightly only as needed, and protect the central leader (the main upward-growing tip).

Need Help or Have Questions?

At Riverbend Landscapes & Tree Service, we love helping our neighbors grow strong, healthy trees. Whether you’re wondering about soil, watering, or long-term care, our ISA Certified Arborists are here to guide you.


Ask us about our tree health management programs to keep your entire landscape thriving year-round.

Call Riverbend today at 703-402-9366