The better you choose the location for your witch hazel and prepare for planting, the more you can look forward to the blooms of this unusual shrub. Because the witch hazel certainly has some demands on the soil and location.
How do I plant a witch hazel correctly?
To plant a witch hazel successfully, choose a sunny or semi-shady, wind-protected location and loose, humus-rich, lime-poor soil. Prepare a large planting hole, loosen solid soil with sand or gravel and enrich the soil with compost and horn shavings. Bark mulch helps retain moisture in the soil.
And she reacts quite sensitively when these demands are not met. Then it grows even more slowly or not at all and the flower also suffers significantly. Either the witch hazel blooms only sparsely or it doesn't bloom at all.
The best location and suitable soil
In its homeland, witch hazel likes to grow in sparse forests. You should choose the location accordingly, ideally sunny or partially shaded. If the witch hazel, as witch hazel is called in Latin, gets too little light, it will not bloom as beautifully as expected. The witch hazel should also be protected from the wind.
The ideal soil for witch hazel is nutrient-rich, loose and, above all, low in lime. It can be a little sandy or slightly clayey and a little moist. However, the witch hazel cannot tolerate waterlogging at all and the soil should not dry out either. Both have a negative effect on growth and flowering.
The witch hazel grows very slowly, but over time it still becomes very large. You should consider this when choosing a location. It requires a relatively large amount of space and is particularly decorative as a solitary plant. Do not plant the witch hazel too close to strong root-forming plants, as the witch hazel cannot tolerate competition. This affects their growth.
Preparing the planting
Choose the location for your witch hazel carefully, as it does not tolerate being transplanted well. Loosen solid soil by adding coarse sand or gravel and dig a sufficiently large planting hole. Put well-ripened garden compost in there, mixed with some horn shavings (€52.00 on Amazon).
Caring for the freshly planted witch hazel
It takes about two to three years until the witch hazel is well rooted and begins to grow properly. You may also have to wait some time for the first flowering. Make sure the soil around the young witch hazel never dries out. A thick layer of bark mulch around the plant is helpful. Water the plant during prolonged drought.
The most important things in brief:
- sunny or partially shaded location
- sheltered from the wind
- loose, humus-rich soil, preferably slightly moist
- if possible, never transplant, so choose the location carefully
- loose firm soil with sand or gravel
- Enrich nutrients through compost and/or horn shavings
- Bark mulch to prevent the soil from drying out
Tip
Choose the location for your witch hazel particularly carefully, as it does not tolerate transplanting well. Although it grows very slowly, it still reaches a considerable size.