I have a very large hemlock tree and I planted some hostas, some impatiens and 2 rhododendrons under it. Nothing seems to be doing well. I think they need some fertilizer. But someone on another forum suggested that the hemlock tree could be producing some kind of chemical/hormone ect that could prohibit the growth of other plants around it. Kind of like Walnut trees do. The dirt here is kind of powdery and loose I have noticed and I have to water a lot. My rhodies look so unhappy and are slowly turning yellow and losing their leaves. I tried looking it up via a google link, but there was just so much information -some was conflicting and some just pages and pages long. SO does anyone have a hemlock tree that they successfully grow stuff under or near?