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Hazelnut prunig

radioheadbgradioheadbg Posts: 4
in Tools and techniques

Dear all

I just recently planted certain amount of hazelnut shrubs. They look like the one in the picture. 
I know nothing about growing or pruning any type of trees so no experience at all. 


I need some help about pruning them to a single stem or a tree like form, so my questions are:

  1. In the picture, you can see the middle cut stem. I got them like this from the nursery. I am not sure if this is important but can this be an issue for single stem filbert growing? And why was this cut in the first place?
  2. How do I choose the right stem/leader? what makes the one better then the other?
  3. Once the single leader is chosen, how tall should I leave it before I start leaving lateral branches? What is the minimum distance from the ground to my first lateral branch?
  4. How long do I have to keep it branchless or at what time can I start leaving lateral branches to grow and not cut them?
  5. Where do I cut the branches and why? OR I can cut anywhere when pruning?

 

If someone can use this picture I have posted as a model, it would be great.

 

Thanks all!


Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Hazelnuts naturally form a shrub, with a short stem and many branches off it. Is there a reason you want a single stem?
  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    It's going to take a while to get it to look like a tree.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • radioheadbgradioheadbg Posts: 4
    Yes, machinery. I need to grow them single stem.
  • radioheadbgradioheadbg Posts: 4
    In the US this is quite common.To grow them as a small dwarf like tree. 
  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    Ah right.  I think over here they are left to be shrubs.   You may be better off asking on an American site.  Most of us are Brits with some Europeans.
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    If you want one with a single stem it would be easier to get one that is not already cut
    https://homeguides.sfgate.com/train-hazelnut-become-tree-76458.html is a guide on how to grow them as a "tree" Good luck is all I can say it's not their natural growth shape so it will always be a fight. (Also that plant is planted too deep, hazel will root from any part touching the ground so those buried stems will root and shoot)

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    That hazel looks as if it’s been prepared to grow as a multi-stemmed shrub to be coppiced every few years. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If you want a tree you need a single stemmed whip which has never been pruned so the main tip can head skywards.    In subsequent years you then remove any lower branches that form in order to make a clear main stem with shoots branching out higher up.

    The plant in your picture has clearly been pruned to make it produce several stems which is the normal thing for coppicing hazel.  Each of those buds is capable, in good growing conditions, of producing long stems a couple of metres high in a single season.   You may be able to remove all but the strongest at the end of the next growing season in order to leave one main stem to grow on the following year.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • radioheadbgradioheadbg Posts: 4
    Thanks a lot for the view. I will try and leave the single stem so it grows bigger.
  • neilbradburnneilbradburn Posts: 142
    Hi radioheadbg,
    I too have a number of young hazelnuts (cobnuts in my case) that I've been trying to persuade to grow as single stem bushes. They were 2 year old bare root trees planted this april. In retrospect, like yours they were bought prep'd for growing as multi-stems.  I have to say that they've been less than co-operative :-) I removed all but the strongest stems and have been trying to coax the 3/4  strong shoots off these that will be the basis for the 10 or so branches. However, even with a bit of nicking and notching (don't ask!) of my 5 trees, only 2 look remotely like they should now. If I could revisit my decision, I would either accept their multi-stem nature, or I would go out and get some that have been grown in a single-stem format.
    kind regards.
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