Hazelnut bushes should be pruned every two to four years to maintain healthy yields. Without proper pruning, the productivity of the bushes diminishes over time. In this guide, we’ll explain the key techniques for pruning your hazelnut bushes.
Introduction to Hazelnuts
Hazelnuts are one of the oldest native fruit-bearing plants, offering not only tasty nuts but also numerous health benefits. Hazelnuts are rich in healthy fats, with 60% of their composition being plant-based oils, of which more than 90% are unsaturated. They are also a great source of B vitamins, Vitamin E, and essential minerals.
There are two main types of hazelnuts: Zellernuss (Corylus avellana), which has open bracts that partially cover the nut, and Lambertsnuss (Corylus maxima), where the bracts fully enclose the nut. Numerous cultivars have been bred from these original species, including varieties like ‘Bergers Zellernuss,’ ‘Daviana,’ ‘Purpurea,’ and ‘Webbs Preisnuss’. Since hazelnuts are wind-pollinated, it’s important to plant two or more varieties within 50 meters of each other for cross-pollination.
The Perfect Pruning Technique
Hazelnut bushes can grow up to 7 meters tall and 4 to 5 meters wide. Without pruning, they become dense, which limits sunlight from reaching the inner branches, reducing nut production. To maintain healthy growth and maximize yield, remove old branches near the base or lower parts of the bush and replace them with strong, young shoots. Thin out weak and off-center branches during the summer while they are still green and flexible. If you missed a pruning session, it’s often best to cut the bush back to the ground, a technique called « coppicing. » This drastic cut allows the plant to regenerate but requires patience, as it will take 2 to 3 years for the bush to bear fruit again.
For optimal growth, focus on encouraging wide, well-branched bushes rather than upright shoots, which don’t produce many nuts. Over time, replace older, dense branches with fresh, strong shoots and remove any crossing or inward-growing branches.
Training Hazelnut Trees
Although hazelnuts are typically grown as bushes, you can also train certain large-fruited varieties like ‘Hallesche Riesennuss’ to grow as small, low-stemmed trees. This method offers several advantages, such as earlier fruiting and easier pest management. For example, you can attach sticky bands to the trunks to manage the hazelnut weevil.
When pruning hazelnut trees, aim for an open, well-lit crown. To do this, cut the central stem above a favorable branching point and remove any side shoots along the trunk. Steep, vertical branches above outward-facing buds should be shortened, while flat lateral branches should remain untouched. It’s essential to choose four to five main scaffold branches to form the tree’s structure and remove any competing growth.
Additional Care Tips
Regular maintenance, such as loosening the soil and removing weeds, helps prevent pests like the hazelnut weevil and rodents, which can damage the roots in winter. While hazel mice, related to dormice, can cause some damage, they are a protected species and play an important role in the ecosystem by fattening up on the nuts for their hibernation.
Conclusion
Whether growing hazelnuts as a bush or a tree, the best nuts come from well-sunlit branches. Plant hazelnut bushes about 5 meters apart and hazelnut trees around 6 meters apart. In the fourth year after planting, start thinning the bushes by removing excess branches close to the base, leaving five to seven strong, healthy shoots.