General
Common hazel is a multi-stemmed shrub that can also be trained as a small tree. Catkins (male) open late winter to early spring; female flowers are tiny red styles on buds. Plants sucker naturally and respond very well to coppicing. For nuts, choose well-matched cultivars with overlapping bloom. Typical bearing starts 3–5 years after planting, with peak yields from year 7+. Resistant and low-maintenance, hazel also offers wildlife value and can host truffle inoculations in suitable soils. Corylus avellana (common hazel) is the standard in Northern Europe; Corylus maxima (filbert) has larger nuts but is slightly less hardy.
Light
Full sun to partial shade; best nut yields in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light.
Soil type
Moist but well-drained loam or sandy loam; tolerates clay if not waterlogged. Add organic matter for structure.
Water requirement
Moderate; even moisture during establishment and nut fill, drought-tolerant once established.
Nutrient requirement
Low to moderate. Benefits from annual compost and light spring feeding; avoid excessive nitrogen that promotes suckers over nuts.
Precultivation
Seed (nuts) requires cold stratification: store sound, uncracked nuts moist and cold (1–5°C) for 8–12 weeks, then sow in deep pots to protect from rodents. Germination is slow and uneven. Named cultivars should be propagated by layering, stooling, or grafting to preserve traits; seedlings vary widely.
Planting
Plant bare-root from early spring as soon as ground is workable or in autumn while soil is warm. Space 3–5 m between bushes (2–3 m if for coppice). Set the plant at the same depth as in the nursery, spread roots, backfill with native soil plus compost, water deeply, and mulch 5–8 cm, keeping mulch off stems. Install two compatible cultivars within 10–20 m for reliable cross-pollination. Protect from voles/rabbits.
Pruning
For nut production, maintain an open, multi-stemmed stool with 6–8 well-spaced young stems. In JAS (July–September), remove dead, crossing, and weak shoots; thin excessive suckers at the base. Every year or two, take out 1–2 of the oldest stems at the base to encourage renewal. For coppice/poles, cut all stems to 5–10 cm above ground on a 5–8 year cycle in winter. Avoid heavy spring cuts when sap is rising to reduce bleeding.
Maintenance
Mulch annually to conserve moisture and suppress grass (hazel dislikes sod competition). Water during dry spells in May–July when nuts are setting and filling. Feed lightly in early spring with compost or a balanced, low-N organic fertilizer; a small potassium boost in late summer aids kernel fill. Monitor suckers and thin during summer. Net shrubs if jays/squirrels are a problem. Keep a diverse hedgerow to encourage beneficials and improve wind pollination.
Harvest
Nuts mature late August to October. Harvest when husks turn brown and nuts begin to drop; shake branches and gather daily to beat wildlife. Dry nuts in a single layer in a warm, airy place for 2–3 weeks until kernels snap crisply, then store cool and dry. For fresh green filberts, pick slightly earlier when kernels are milky, but they won’t store long.
Common issues
Poor set often results from lack of compatible polliniser or frost during bloom; plant two or more cultivars with overlapping catkin/pistillate bloom and site out of frost pockets. Excessive suckering indicates high nitrogen or heavy pruning—reduce N and adopt gradual renewal. Big bud mite (Phytoptus avellanae) causes swollen buds; remove and destroy affected buds in winter. Eastern filbert blight is rare in Northern Europe but select resistant cultivars where present. Rodents and jays steal nuts—use guards and timely harvest.
Pollination
Wind-pollinated; many cultivars are partially self-fertile but cross-pollination between two genetically different hazels that bloom at the same time greatly improves yield.
Companion plants
Clover or low groundcovers to suppress grass, comfrey (dynamic accumulator), currants/gooseberries at the drip line, spring bulbs or wild garlic/ramsons under canopy.
Incompatible plants
Juglone-producing walnuts close by, thirsty shallow-rooted lawn competing at the base, plants needing waterlogged soils; avoid dense conifer shade.
