Hazelnut trees, also known as filbert trees, are a popular nut tree to grow for their delicious edible nuts. When planting hazelnut trees, proper spacing is crucial to ensure the trees have adequate room to grow and reach their full potential. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how far apart to plant hazelnut trees based on climate, variety, soil conditions, and other factors.
Spacing Recommendations for Hazelnut Trees
The recommended spacing for hazelnut trees is typically 10-15 feet apart. This allows enough space between trees for sufficient sunlight penetration, air circulation, and root development. However, the ideal spacing can vary based on several factors
- Climate – In cooler climates, space trees 12-15 feet apart. In warmer climates, 10-12 feet is sufficient.
- Variety – Larger, full-size varieties need 12-15 feet spacing. More compact dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties can be spaced 10-12 feet apart.
- Soil conditions – In marginal soils, space trees further apart at 14-16 feet. In prime soils, 10-12 feet is adequate.
- Orchard design – For commercial orchards focused on maximizing yield, spacing as close as 6-8 feet may be used.
Most home gardeners find a spacing of 12-15 feet apart provides a good balance of adequate space for tree growth while still allowing for efficient use of garden space
How Planting Distance Affects Tree Growth
Proper spacing of hazelnut trees is important to prevent overcrowding issues. When planted too close together, trees compete for resources like sunlight, water and nutrients. This leads to poor growth, lack of vigor, and reduced nut yields.
By providing adequate spacing, each tree has sufficient access to sunlight to power photosynthesis and growth. Air can freely circulate, which helps minimize foliar diseases. Trees have room to develop strong root systems without competing for space and nutrients. All of these factors allow trees to grow to their full potential size and maximize nut production.
Choosing the Best Spacing for Your Hazelnut Orchard
When deciding how far apart to space your hazelnut trees, consider the following factors:
Climate and Growing Zone
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In colder climates, space trees 14-16 feet apart. The extra space helps protect trees from winter damage.
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In hot climates, use a spacing of 10-12 feet. Closer spacing creates a canopy effect that provides shade and reduces heat stress.
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Align spacing with your USDA Hardiness Zone. Trees need more room in colder zones.
Hazelnut Variety
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Standard hazelnut varieties reach 15-20 feet tall and wide. Space these varieties 14-16 feet apart.
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Compact, dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties reach 10-15 feet tall/wide. A spacing of 10-12 feet is sufficient.
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Refer to mature size estimates when choosing spacing for specific varieties.
Soil Quality
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In marginal soils, space trees 14-16 feet apart so roots have adequate space to forage for nutrients.
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In prime, nutrient-rich soils, trees can be spaced 10-12 feet apart.
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Test soil and amend if needed before planting. Hazelnuts prefer well-drained loamy soil.
Orchard Design and Purpose
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For small backyard orchards, opt for 12-15 feet spacing for easy maintenance and harvest.
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Commercial orchards often use tighter spacing of 8-10 feet for higher yields. This requires more intensive management.
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If you prioritize nut quality over maximizing yields, go with wider 14-16 spacing.
No matter your specific goals, avoid spacing trees closer than 8 feet apart. This almost always results in stunted growth and low productivity. Carefully consider all factors before settling on the best planting distance for your situation.
Planting Tips for Properly Spaced Hazelnut Trees
Follow these tips to ensure hazelnut trees are spaced properly when planting:
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Mark the designated spacing in the planting area using stakes and string. This helps avoid planting trees too close.
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For multi-row planting, ensure at least 15-20 feet between rows to allow sunlight penetration.
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Dig wide holes to accommodate the shallow, spreading root system. Hazelnuts are planted 2-3 inches deeper than nursery level.
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Place each tree in the pre-dug hole and backfill with native soil. Water thoroughly after planting.
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Over time, remove weaker stems on multi-trunk trees to maintain optimal spacing as trees develop.
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Monitor growth and adjust spacing if necessary. Overcrowded trees can be transplanted or removed to give remaining trees adequate room.
Providing Proper Care for Hazelnut Trees
In addition to proper spacing, hazelnut trees need:
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Annual dormant season pruning to shape trees and improve productivity
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Regular irrigation during dry periods, about 1-2 inches per week
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Mulching around trees to conserve moisture and suppress weeds
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Fertilization in early spring and fall to provide nutrients
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Protection against pests like aphids and diseases like Eastern Filbert Blight
With the right planting distance and proper care, hazelnut trees will flourish and produce abundant crops of delicious nuts. Monitor your trees and adjust spacing as needed over time.
Final Spacing Guidelines by Climate and Variety
This table provides general spacing guidelines based on climate zone and variety type:
| Climate Zone | Standard Varieties | Dwarf/Semi-Dwarf Varieties |
|---|---|---|
| Zones 4-5 | 14-16 feet | 12-14 feet |
| Zones 6-7 | 12-15 feet | 10-12 feet |
| Zones 8-9 | 10-12 feet | 8-10 feet |
However, soil condition, orchard design, and other factors can alter the ideal spacing. When in doubt, always allow adequate room for air circulation, sunlight, and root expansion. Proper tree spacing sets the foundation for a healthy, vibrant hazelnut orchard that will provide bountiful harvests for years to come.
Planting Density and Design
The standard orchard density is a 20 × 20-foot tree spacing (6 × 6 meters).
One way to get profitable returns from a hazelnut orchard much earlier than usual, while avoiding the usual drawbacks of intercropping (planting another crop between the tree rows), is to plant a high-density orchard. Because the yield per tree from a high-density orchard is nearly the same as that from a standard-density orchard for the first 5 or 6 years, yield per acre goes up in proportion to the increased number of trees. Thus, in a double-density orchard, per-acre early yield is double that of a standard orchard.
Rectangular spacing of 10 × 20 feet with 218 trees per acre or 12 × 18 feet with 201 trees per acre allows for thinning to a triangle of approximately 20, 21, or 22 feet, which makes cross-flailing (flailing in two directions) easy. (Metric spacing is 3 × 6 meters with 538 trees per hectare or 3.6 × 5.5 meters with 496 trees per hectare, with thinning to a triangle of about 6, 6.4, or 6.7 meters.) An herbicide-treated strip of soil down the rows reduces the need for cross-flailing, but cross-flailing helps eliminate grooves in the soil surface, which makes harvest easier.
Table 1 shows theoretical yields from 10 × 20-foot spacing versus a standard 20 × 20-foot planting. When the trees become crowded, some growers prune back the temporary trees to allow the permanent trees to grow out in a fairly normal pattern. The temporary trees are removed after year 10.
Establishing a New Orchard
Modern GPS systems allow precision planting of orchards. There are companies that will contract with you to mark the exact spot for each tree according to your planned spacing and tree arrangement.
Plant trees anytime from fall through spring, as soon as possible after you receive them from the nursery. Don’t let the tree roots dry out before planting. The earlier a tree is planted, the more time it has to develop a working root system before it leafs out in the spring. Root growth is active in January and February whenever soil temperatures are 40°F (4.5°C) or higher.
Before planting, prune off the ends of broken roots. On trees propagated from stool beds or layers, remove any of the original layered wood remaining below the main area of rooting.
Dig holes for the trees 18–24 inches (45.7–61 cm) wide and 10–12 inches (25.4–30.5 cm) deep. Partially fill the hole with a small mound of soil. Digging in wet ground with a power auger might cause compaction on the sides of the holes. If this happens, loosen the compacted area.
Spread the tree roots out, and press them down into the bottom of the hole on top of the small mound of soil. Add enough soil so the top root is 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) below the soil surface. Then add a few extra inches to allow for settling of the soil. If you are planting a grafted tree, do not bury the graft union. Tamp the soil firmly on top of the roots to exclude air pockets.
It is never too early to start leveling the soil throughout the orchard to make flailing and harvesting operations easier.
Raintree Nursery’s Hazelnut Growing Guide
FAQ
How far apart should American Hazelnut trees be planted?
On average, a mature American Hazelnut is approximately 8′ – 12′ wide. If you want to plant a tight hedgerow, where the shrubs overlap, then plant them about 6 or 7 feet apart, on center (with 6′ or 7′ being the distance from trunk to trunk center). When they mature, the plants will overlap.
How much space does hazelnut need?
For well-managed orchards with good soils, an 18 × 18-foot square (5.5 × 5.5 meters) with 134 trees per acre (331 trees per hectare) is a good permanent …
How many years does it take for a hazelnut tree to produce fruit?
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Orchard Peoplehttps://orchardpeople.comDual Cropping: Growing Hazelnuts Trees and Truffles TogetherAK: Our trees produce a massive root system. So, most of the biomass is actually in the roots. Even in our oaks, we had acorns produced the second year. So Amer…
Do you need two hazelnut trees to get nuts?
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Reddithttps://www.reddit.comAnyone have American Hazelnut in their yard? – RedditMar 24, 2024 — * Sepal-Chaser. • 1y ago. Yes, American Hazelnut needs a second tree to pollinate. Possibly a genetically distinct tree too, but the internet is a …
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GrowVeg.comhttps://www.growveg.comA Guide to Growing Your Own Hazelnuts – GrowVeg.comNov 13, 2014 — How to Care For Hazelnuts. Hazelnuts prefer soil that’s well drained and fairly low in nutrients; overly rich soil gives plenty of leaf growth at th…
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Z’s Nutty Ridge LLChttps://znutty.comHow to plant and care for your Hazelnut trees – Z’s Nutty Ridge LLC
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Arbor Day Foundationhttps://shop.arborday.orgLearn About American Hazelnut – Arbor Day FoundationIf you’re interested in planting hazelnuts for their nuts, be sure you have a bit of space. You’ll need to plant two or more shrubs to ensure a good crop. … T…
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UBC Botanical Garden Forumshttps://forums.botanicalgarden.ubc.caHazelnut Tree Varieties – UBC Botanical Garden ForumsJan 10, 2021 — Hazelnut trees require cross pollination from a different hazelnut cultivar to produce a nut crop. You must grow two hazelnut trees with strong gene…
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wildway.infohttps://www.wildway.infoHow to plant and grow hazelnutsDec 6, 2024 — How to plant hazel nuts trees. The key information to know with hazel nut trees is: Full sun is essential to ripen the best crop of nuts, woodland ed…
How far apart should hazelnut trees be planted?
Space hazelnut trees 15-18 feet apart to ensure proper air circulation and growth. Adequate spacing reduces the risk of disease and allows each tree to receive sufficient sunlight and nutrients (The Spruce, n.d.). Install a mesh tree guard or trunk protector to prevent damage from animals or lawn equipment.
How do you grow a hazelnut tree?
In terms of soil quality, the hazelnuts are adaptable but the soil needs to be rich and well-drained with a slightly acidic pH between 6.3 and 6.8. Space the trees 15 to 18 feet apart. For planting, dig a hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the J-shaped root system. Place a small amount of soil in the hole and spread out the roots.
When should a hazelnut tree be planted?
Hazelnut trees should be planted during their dormancy period, which is typically in late fall or early spring (The Spruce, n.d.). Planting during dormancy allows the trees to establish their root systems before the onset of vigorous growth in the spring. Choose a spot that receives full sun exposure for at least 6-8 hours per day.
How much sunlight does a hazelnut tree need?
They need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day to produce well. The shadier the spot, the fewer fruits the tree will produce. Hazelnut transplants are best planted in early to late winter when the plants are dormant, and heat won’t shock the tree. If growing hazelnuts from seed, plant them outdoors or indoors in the fall.
Where do hazelnut trees grow best?
Hazelnut trees grow best in areas with cool winters and mild summers. Having two hazelnut trees is usually necessary for optimal nut production. Hazelnut trees are generally not self-pollinating, requiring pollen from another compatible hazelnut tree to produce nuts.
How do I choose a hazelnut plant?
There are hundreds of hazelnut cultivars, so when you decide on what to grow, consider the pests in your area and select a variety that is resistant. Nitrogen-fixing plants like crimson clover or white clover, or plants that attract pollinators and improve soil like comfrey make good companions for growing hazelnuts.