Question
Hi, I have 2 Canadian Hemlocks as well as several azaleas in my front yard that are old in age. On certain areas of the trees and shrubs there are branches that have absolutley no leaves. These branches continue to come back each year still with no leaves. Are these branches dead? Is it true that branches of this nature should be removed through pruning to secure the health of the entire tree or shrub? By doing this, would it be possible for new branches to grow from the removed ones? Is there any way to revive these trees and shrubs so that there are once again leaves on all branches? Thank you so much for your time,
Audrey

Answer
Audrey,
The dead branches on both the Hemlocks and Azaleas should be pruned off to help stimulate new growth from the center of the plants. Most of the time, the branches around the dead areas will start to grow into the space to fill it in. Careful pruning can help speed up this process. Make sure to keep them well watered and well fertilized to maximize their growth potential.