Hazel trees are native to Britain and also grow in Europe and some areas of Western Asia. In the UK, you’ll often see hazel growing in hedgerows or woodland. A hazel tree is a good choice for the garden, especially with the wide range of cultivars available, as it can be used for hedging, as a tree in a mixed border or as a shrub. It’s a valuable plant for wildlife and can provide a delicious crop of hazelnuts.
There are two main species of Corylus – Corylus avellana, also known as a cobnut, and Corylus maxima, known as a filbert. Hazelnut is a common name for both of these species. Hazel trees are also often coppiced, cut down to the base, which encourages new stems to grow. These stems can be used for plant supports, fencing and wigwams, among other things.
Corylus avellana has a moderate growth rate, growing around 40-60cm a year. Many hazel trees will take more than 10 years to reach their eventual height. Although it can grow to 12m tall in the wild, it’s easy to keep a hazel tree compact by pruning regularly. For small gardens, you could also try a compact, slow-growing variety, such as ‘Contorta‘, which has attractive twisted stems and only reaches 3-5m tall.
Hazel trees are deciduous, so they lose their leaves in winter. They’re also hardy and tolerant of most soils, although they won’t thrive in waterlogged soils. Hazel trees are wind pollinated but some bees will visit the catkins for pollen.
Corkscrew hazel, also known as contorted hazelnut, is a unique and fun shrub admired for its twisted, spiral-like stems. If left unpruned, it will grow into a natural specimen plant with fully twisted branches. However, with proper pruning, the corkscrew hazel can also be shaped into a beautiful small tree. Here is a guide on how to prune corkscrew hazel for maximum beauty.
When to Prune Corkscrew Hazel
The ideal time for pruning corkscrew hazel is during late winter or early spring, while the plant is dormant and before new growth emerges. Pruning at this time prevents removing any new spring growth.
Tools for Pruning
Pruning corkscrew hazel only requires using a pair of sharp, clean bypass pruning shears. Wearing gardening gloves can also help protect your hands during pruning. Avoid using hedge trimmers, as they can damage the stems.
How to Prune Corkscrew Hazel into a Small Tree
If your goal is to prune the corkscrew hazel into a small ornamental tree, follow these tips:
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Each year, remove about one-third of the plant’s oldest, innermost stems by cutting them back to the parent branch. This stimulates new growth on the outside of the plant.
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Also prune back any stems growing inward to just above an outward facing bud. This encourages outward growth to form the tree shape.
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In the second year after planting, remove the lower lateral stems and branches. Continue removing lower growth in subsequent years.
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Check for suckers growing from the base and prune these out completely whenever seen to prevent them from competing with the main plant.
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Over time continue selectively removing any stems or branches that detract from the ideal tree shape you envision.
Pruning for Rejuvenation
Corkscrew hazel can occasionally benefit from rejuvenation pruning to prevent the plant from becoming overly woody and overgrown. Here are tips for rejuvenation pruning:
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Do major rejuvenation pruning over 3 years. This gives the plant time to recover between prunings.
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Before starting, assess the plant and choose stems to remove from throughout the shrub, not just outer stems.
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In year 1, remove 1/3 of the oldest, inner branches by cutting them back to about 12-15 inches from the ground.
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In year 2, remove 1/2 of the remaining older branches.
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In year 3, prune out the rest of the older branches.
Pruning for Shaping
For regular shaping and maintenance pruning:
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In late winter or early spring, trim back branch tips 4-6 inches from the ends, removing about 15% of the branches evenly distributed around the plant. This maintains its natural character.
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Avoid shearing corkscrew hazel into formal shapes or hedges, as this ruins its unique twisting form.
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Always prune just above outward facing buds or branches to encourage twisted new growth.
By selectively pruning corkscrew hazel each year, you can maintain its health, shape it as desired, and keep it looking beautiful for years to come. Proper technique and consistent pruning will lead to a spectacular specimen corkscrew hazel.
How to Prune a Contorted Hazelnut
If you are wondering how to prune a contorted hazelnut, it isn’t very difficult. The first step in trimming corkscrew hazelnuts is to remove about a third of the plant’s oldest stems. You can do this each year. Remove these stems by pruning them back to their parent branches. You should also prune inward growing stems back to outward facing buds. When the goal for pruning a corkscrew hazelnut is to shape it into a small tree, remove the lower lateral stems. Ideally, this trimming should be done the second year after planting. As time passes, remove any branches that do not contribute to your vision of the plant. During contorted hazelnut pruning, always check for suckers at the base of the shrub. Remove these suckers to prevent them from competing with the parent plant for soil nutrients and water.
How to grow a hazel tree
Hazel trees thrive in moist, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Hazel trees are hardy but low temperatures (below -10ºC) can affect the crop, so it’s best to plant your tree in a sheltered position.
Winter pruning Corylus avellana contorta (Corkscrew Hazel)
FAQ
How do you prune corkscrew hazel?
Hazel trees only require light pruning. In late winter or early spring, cut out any diseased, damaged or dead stems. Remove any suckers, cutting these back to the base. If you are coppicing hazel, this should be done every five to seven years to give your plant a chance to produce strong new stems.
When should I cut back hazel?
Hazelnuts can be pruned in the winter, spring, or summer. Pruning during winter (the dormant season) will cause the most vigorous growth the following spring. Spring or summer pruning produces much less return growth, and is useful in removing suckers and low-hanging limbs.
How and when to prune witch hazel?
- Early Spring (after flowering): This is the ideal time to prune for shaping and removing dead or damaged wood, as it promotes new growth and flower bud development.
- Autumn: Remove suckers (offshoots) that emerge from the base of the plant.
How to care for a twisted hazel?
This twisted hazel tree do well in any soil type (with a preference for chalky soil) that is moist but well-drained in partial shade or full sun. Exposure is well tolerated by this small, eventually rounded, ornamental tree.
How do you prune a corkscrew hazel tree?
If your corkscrew hazel has seriously outgrown its space, it can be renovation pruned and cut to the ground. Choose the best of the resulting suckers as new stems and prune out the rest. Alternatively, prune out one stem in three each year for three years, beginning with the oldest stems. Corkscrew hazel should be renovation pruned in late winter.
What does a corkscrew hazel tree look like?
The corkscrew hazel offers both. In the winter, its contorted branches lend pattern to your landscape, and then in the late winter and early spring, the long yellow catkins of the male flowers add a punch of color. What Is Corkscrew Hazel? Corkscrew hazel is a sport of the hazel tree. How do you prune a corkscrew hazelnut tree?
Should a corkscrew hazelnut be pruned?
When the goal for pruning a corkscrew hazelnut is to shape it into a small tree, remove the lower lateral stems. Ideally, this trimming should be done the second year after planting. As time passes, remove any branches that do not contribute to your vision of the plant. Do corkscrew hazel need pruning?
How does a corkscrew hazelnut tree work?
Here’s how it works. Contorted hazelnut, also called corkscrew hazelnut, is a shrub that doesn’t have many straight branches. It is known and loved for its twisting, spiral-like stems. If you want to start pruning a corkscrew hazelnut, you can turn the one-of-a-kind specimen plant into a little tree.
How do you grow a corkscrew hazelnut?
Take off about 15 cm of the branches of the smaller hazelnut plants and 30 to 50 cm of the branches of the bigger plants. Try to retain the character of the shrub and do not turn it into a hedge. Corkscrew hazel also known as contorted hazelnut is a fun and unique shrub known for its twisted,
Can a corkscrew hazelnut be turned into a hedge?
Try to retain the character of the shrub and do not turn it into a hedge. Corkscrew hazel also known as contorted hazelnut is a fun and unique shrub known for its twisted, Hazelnut can be given a rejuvenation pruning from October to March. This prevents the bush from becoming too woody and keeps it at a manageable size.