Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Hazel tree (twisty trunk)

2zcsbbxx7q042212zcsbbxx7q04221 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all, new here.

just bought a new house and it has come with a Hazel tree but it seems all the leaves are brown and dead. 

There have been some new branches and leaves sprouting from  from the base of the tree. 

I’m not sure how to go about healing the tree and sorting the brown leaves problem. 

Any advice would greatly appreciated. 

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Hello @2zcsbbxx7q04221  and welcome to the forum 😊 

    The leaves will change colour and fall in the autumn as hazels are deciduous.  This will reveal the lovely twisted stems at their best … and then of course you’ll get the dancing lambs’ tail catkins in the spring before it leafs up again. 

    It sounds as if the new shoots are coming from below the graft (all twisted hazels are grafted) … these need to be removed flush with the trunk otherwise they will take over and spoil your gorgeous tree. Deep envy here … I had one in a former garden. 💚 

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





  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    I'm wondering if your beautiful contorted hazel has got too dry at some point, and is going into leaf fall a little early, or if this is just a hazel doing what it does in autumn...
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes the leaves are as ‘crinkly and curly’ as the stems ‘cos they have the same genetic condition. Contorted hazels are best in the winter and spring and a great focal point when the other shrubs etc are asleep. 

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





  • 2zcsbbxx7q042212zcsbbxx7q04221 Posts: 2
    Thanks for all the advice guys much appreciated!!
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    edited October 2023
    These comments are quite reassuring, I'm glad it's not just me that finds my contorted hazel scruffy when it's in leaf.  To me it just looks like a sick shrub. This summer I grew a morning glory up through it which made it a little more pleasing.

    The flip side, and the reason I haven't removed it, is it does look pretty cool in winter, especially towards the tail end when the catkins appear.
Sign In or Register to comment.