The hazelnut is spreading rapidly and growing wildly in many corners without any intervention from gardeners. These are reasons to believe that she doesn't need much care. But is that really the case?
How do you properly care for a hazelnut?
Hazelnut care includes occasional watering with lime-free water, compost or liquid fertilizer, optional topiary and disease and pest control, especially against the hazelnut beetle. It is also important to remove affected nuts to prevent larval infestation.
Watering – How, when and how often?
So that watering does not play a major role in dealing with the hazelnut, the soil should be loosened well when planting this tree. This means water can be stored better. The result: From the second year onwards, watering is not necessarily necessary.
In dry times and in full sun locations, however, the hazelnut should be watered regularly. It is best to flood the root area vigorously once rather than watering hesitantly several times. Ideally, lime-free water or rainwater should be used for watering. The hazelnut does not tolerate lime well.
Is fertilizer necessary?
When planting hazelnuts, compost should be added to the soil. Otherwise, the hazelnut can be enriched with nutrients every two years with compost (€12.00 on Amazon) or once a year with a liquid complete fertilizer.
Should the hazelnut be cut?
The hazelnut can, but does not have to, be cut. It tolerates both shaping, thinning and radical pruning well. She then happily pursues it.
Please note the following when cutting:
- Time: in the fall after the nuts have been harvested
- If you cut hazelnuts in spring, you can expect lower yields in autumn
- remove older branches and branches that are too close together
- cut out wild shoots (resulting from the root runners)
- Mistakes in cutting are quickly forgiven
What diseases and pests can make her life difficult?
There are no specific diseases that affect hazelnuts. However, there is a pest that can make life difficult for gardeners. It's the hazelnut beetle. He drills open the hazelnut shells and eats the seeds they contain. Then it likes to deposit its larvae inside the nuts.
Tips & Tricks
Declare war on the hazelnut beetle: Dispose of all affected nuts - including those on the ground. Then the larvae disappear and have no chance of attacking the nuts next year.
