Hemlock cone production

[Z'sTrees]

Maybe someone on here more knowledgeable can help: I have two Carolina hemlocks (tsuga caroliniana) that are absolutely covered in cones. There is little to no sign of adelgid and overall the trees look very healthy. I raised the crown on these about a year ago to clearance the a roof and service lines. The vast majority of the cuts look like they are healing nicely. One tree has steel cable in it from someones old dog run or something.
I am afraid the heavy cone production is the tree going into panic mode, if you will, and trying to get seed out before it begins to die. Am I correct in assuming this or could it be just a heavy year or have to do with the pruning?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Treetopflyer]

No girdling Roots ? More focus or investigation on soil side ?

 

[Z'sTrees]

Nope, no girdling roots. They are on a hillside that sees some erosion but nothing too bad. There are a few roots exposed on the low side, but the soil does not seem to be compacted on the high side.

 

[KTSmith]

Keep in mind that genus Tsuga is known to be a heavy producer of cones at natural intervals. Up here in New England and New York, Canadian Hemlock is the heaviest cone producer we've got. I expect that Carolina Hemlock are much the same.
I'm not saying that the trees are all hunky-dory, but this is one genus for which heavy fruiting can occur in the absence of "panic mode".
Interestingly, and of no help to you at all, hemlock seed viability from all of those cones is generally pretty low, even in the absence of insect predation or disease.

 

[Z'sTrees]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear. I really have no reason to suspect these hemlocks other than there being so many cones.