Question
Do hemlocks shed their needles in the fall?  I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and have seen bare hemlock stands in the winter.  I thought I learned in college that they lost their needles in winter but I now can't find anyone to agree with me on that.  What is the answer?

Answer
Hemlocks like most conifer do shed the older needles each year. Even though they are called evergreens they will keep a set of green needles but will drop older needles. As long as the foliage near the ends of the branches is green the tree is ok and the shedding is normal.