I bought two American Hazelnut trees any tips?

Anniekay

Well-known member
Location
Quitman, Ga.
Hardiness zone
9a
I've been reluctant to plant nuts because, you know, Squirrels !! So, I bought two šŸ˜‚ from the Arbor Day Nursery on line. You can join the Arbor Day foundation when you make a purchase. It costs $10 but they take $10 off your order, so, win-win. After that you get all your trees at a reduced price, so triple win. I got them bare root for $14.99 each, 3' tall and also, they plant a tree each time you order from them so, that's another win.

I am going to plant them on a bit of a ridge (since they like free-draining soil, which I have) and to help shade my Camellias that used to have my big old Pecan tree for shade which was demolished during the 2023 hurricane. The poor camellias are really having a hard time with the excess sun.

Now, with these, they ARE self fertile, unlike the European varieties, but, of course, two always increases yield and I need that with all the squirrels !! šŸ˜„ These grow quite fast and can be trained into a single or multitrunk tree, which I will most likely try to do.

As far as fertilizing these, I have no clue. They will grow from south Canada all the way down to my zone 9. Any tips on pruning and fertilizing these would be appreciated !! šŸ˜
 
I know these trees like good drainage, as you clearly have there, but in view of just how well drained it is, I would try to add some organic compost if possible to the planting holes. Otherwise, I'd use fish blood & bone - again at the time of planting.
 
I've read through twice Annie but still can't see what type of trees you've bought. I don't trust my brain let alone my eyes these days. :D
It's this one below Corylus Americana. Doesn't get too tall, more of a bush if you allow it to be.
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I know these trees like goo drainage, as you clearly have there, but in view of just how well drained it is, I would try to add some organic compost if possible to the planting holes. Otherwise, I'd use fish blood & bone - again at the time of planting.
I do always mix compost into my sandy soil due to the lack of nutrition. Bone meal I have plenty of. Should I fertilize it before and after flowering ? @Tetters ?
 
Once it's in I reckon it might not need it, mind you all my hazlenuts are very rampant with no fertiliser at all. I'm really not sure, with your soil leeching nutrients as it seems to, I guess it wouldn't hurt.

Edit: I just looked this up at a Kent growers farm. Evidently, if you over fertilise these, it will encourage too much vigorous growth, which in turn will badly affect the crops. They need little fertiliser if you want a heavier crop.
Squirrels are more than happy to devour the nuts well before they mature - so watch out :eek:
 
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'S ok, I'll come with you if you like - it's definitely getting that way here too

It's good to hear I'm not the only one Tetters. :) My head is still buzzing with what needs to be done in and around this new place of mine.

It's a nice looking, shrubby tree Annie and as you say doesn't get too tall. It should be able to handle the high winds you get there.
 
Once it's in I reckon it might not need it, mind you all my hazlenuts are very rampant with no fertiliser at all. I'm really not sure, with your soil leeching nutrients as it seems to, I guess it wouldn't hurt.
I s'pose you're right and, I will need them to be quite productive as they are my and the squirrel's favorite nut !! šŸ˜‚
 
It's good to hear I'm not the only one Tetters. :) My head is still buzzing with what needs to be done in and around this new place of mine.

It's a nice looking, shrubby tree Annie and as you say doesn't get too tall. It should be able to handle the high winds you get there.
It's said that they do make very good windbreaks and hedges. I've seen on Gardener's World that Hazel is popular for hedging in the UK .
 
I hope that you do well with your Hazelnut trees, we don't have any in our garden but in a small wood close to us there's witch hazelnut trees, not many nuts but the squirrels get them before they ripen just like Tetters said.
 
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I hope that you do well with your Hazelnut trees, we don't have any in our garden but in a small wood close to us there's which hazelnut trees, not many nuts but the squirrels get them before they ripen just like Tetters said.
Thank you @Logan. I'm hoping that I get enough for myself out of the two trees and they will shade my Camellias enough to kkeep sunscald off of them.

I have two Camellias. that are a yellowy gold color from the excess sun. I give them all acid fertilizer and the watering is identical. It's just since they lost the shade from the Pecan tree that they've shown these symptoms.
 
Corylus avellana is in fact, as Annie has indicated a native to the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It can be found throughout Europe too - as far as Greece I believe. As it is so often cut regularly to form our hedges it becomes multi-stemmed, but if left to its own devices will make superb bean poles etc. I've also seen it used for other purposes, including walking sticks. The cobnuts that are special to Kent are known as Kentish cobs, and they grow best in the areas that have sandy and very well drained soil. When I first bought my bit of ground I wanted to grow them here, but was advised by the authorities that my soil would only produce a crop every two years, but in those sandy areas there would be an annual much heavier production of nuts. This is the reason I believe that Annie's soil will be perfect for these trees.
 
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