How to Prune Hazelnut Trees

Hazelnut trees are increasing in popularity in the United States. Although they are called trees, they really are closer to a bush because they are many-stemmed and grow to be only about 10 to 12 feet high. Filberts, another name for the nut, are very hardy as well as being almost self-sufficient, resistant to most insects and tolerant of poor soil. The nuts they produce are high in nutrients and healthy oil, turning a field into a source of income.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand pruning shears

1. Clip away any dead branches in the spring, before the growth starts. Normally, the leaves will all fall off before winter, so it is a little hard to tell. Any branches that have been snapped from snow and ice should be removed.

2. Prune out bug-eaten leaves and remove any leaves that might be carrying bug eggs. Normally, hazelnuts are not bothered by pests, but there are occasions when an infestation occurs. You can spray them down with an organic insecticidal soap spray if necessary.

3. Trim up the trunk so that the lower branches are removed if you want to have a cleaner base. This is totally optional and not necessary for good nut production. Make sure the cuts are made at a 45-degree angle so they can repel rain water.

4. Cut back about a third of leggy branches to force bushier growth. The nuts are produced on new wood each year, so the extra pruning will result in a better crop the following year.

5. Cut down the bush to ground level after about 12 years of growth. Do not prune all your bushes at once, or you won't have any nuts for a few years. Instead, stagger the cutting back to just a few bushes each year. Do the cutting in the early spring, when the growth is getting started, and the bush will rebound quickly.

References

• Oregon Hazelnut Marketing Board