Hazel trees (Corylus avellana), also known as cobnuts, are hardy, versatile trees that thrive in Scotland’s temperate climate. They are prized not only for their delicious hazelnuts but also for their ecological benefits, such as providing shelter for wildlife and enhancing soil fertility. Winter planting of hazel trees offers several advantages: the trees are dormant, reducing transplant shock and the roots can establish themselves before the active growing season. With careful attention to soil, planting technique, pruning and ongoing care, Scottish gardeners can enjoy a productive and long lasting hazelnut harvest.
The primary edible part of the hazel tree is, naturally, the hazelnut, which matures in late Summer to early Autumn. Hazelnuts are rich in protein, healthy fats and vitamins, making them a versatile addition to cooking, baking and snacking. Fresh nuts can be eaten raw or roasted, while dried or ground nuts are excellent in desserts, sauces, and spreads.
The catkins or male flowers, are purely ornamental and not consumed, but they play an essential role in pollination, producing pollen to fertilise the female flowers for nut development.
Growing Conditions and Soil For Hazel Trees
Hazel trees thrive in cool to temperate climates like Scotland, tolerating both damp and moderately dry conditions. They require full sun to partial shade, with full sun promoting optimum nut production and better fruit quality. While hazelnuts are adaptable, they perform best in areas with good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.
Soil quality is crucial for successful cultivation. Hazel trees prefer well draining, fertile soils, ideally loamy with a neutral to slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Waterlogged soils can lead to root rot and poor growth, while very sandy soils may struggle to retain moisture and nutrients. Before planting, enriching the soil with compost such as Caledonian Green Goodness or Caledonian Kelpie Compost providing essential nutrients and improving soil structure. In Scotland’s damp climate, adding mulch after planting can help retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect young roots during Winter.
Planting Times For Hazel Trees
Winter is an excellent time to plant hazel trees, typically between November and February, when the trees are fully dormant. Dormancy reduces stress on the plant and allows roots to establish before Spring growth begins. Bare root trees are widely available from nurseries during this period and they are particularly suited for winter planting.When selecting a planting site, choose a location with good drainage and full sun exposure, avoiding low lying areas prone to frost pockets. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system without bending or crowding the roots. The tree should be planted at the same depth it was grown in the nursery, with the root collar just above soil level. Once planted, water well to settle the soil around the roots and apply a protective mulch to insulate against Winter frost.
Pruning & Propagating Hazel Trees
Pruning hazel trees is essential to maintain a productive and healthy tree. For young, Winter planted trees, prune the main stem back to encourage branching, leaving several strong buds to develop into scaffold branches. Hazel naturally produce multiple stems from the base, which is ideal for forming a bushy framework that supports heavy nut loads.
Once established, prune annually in late Winter or early Spring before new growth begins. Remove dead, diseased or crossing branches and thin out crowded areas to maintain an open canopy. This increases air circulation, reduces fungal risks and allows sunlight to reach inner branches, promoting better fruit development. Unlike some fruit trees, hazelnuts do not require formative pruning in the first year beyond establishing the main stems.
Hazel Trees can be propagated via layering or hardwood cuttings. Layering involves bending a low growing branch to the soil and covering it with compost or soil until roots develop. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in Winter and planted directly into prepared soil. Both methods allow gardeners to expand their hazelnut collection without purchasing new plants.
Caring For Hazel Trees
After planting, Winter planted hazel require ongoing care to ensure healthy growth and a harvest. Watering during dry spells, even in Winter, is important for newly planted trees. Mulching with organic material such as straw or bark chips helps retain moisture, suppress weed and regulate soil temperature. We use Caledonian Kelpie Compost as it enhances soil texture and moisture retention, increases levels of organic matter and increases nutrients reducing fertilizer requirements as well as wood chips, chipped from brenaches in our garden.
We have ours planted along a fence line as a mini linear food forest set up. They are also a few down in the main food forest amongst the fruit trees.
Companion Planting With Hazel Trees
Hazel trees integrate well into mixed planting systems or permaculture gardens. They can provide light shade for smaller crops underneath and contribute to overall biodiversity. Ideal companion plants include:
Nitrogen fixing plants such as beans and peas, which enrich the soil and support healthy hazelnut growth.
Strawberries and low growing herbs, which benefit from the dappled shade provided by hazel tree canopies while acting as ground cover.
Comfrey, which accumulates nutrients and improves soil fertility when leaves decompose around the base of the tree.
Avoid planting hazel trees too close to vigorous shrubs or plants that compete for nutrients and moisture. Similarly, trees prone to fungal infections should not be planted nearby, as this may increase the risk of disease.
Planting hazel trees in Winter offers Scottish gardeners a head start on establishing a productive, long lived orchard. By selecting well draining, fertile soil, planting during dormancy and applying careful pruning and maintenance, gardeners can enjoy healthy trees that yield abundant nuts for decades. Hazel trees are remarkably adaptable, providing both ecological and culinary benefits while thriving alongside compatible companion plants.
By investing time in establishing healthy Winter planted trees, gardeners can enjoy the combined benefits of resilient crops, biodiversity and nutritious, delicious nuts for years to come.
Katrina & Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire in Scotland and share their daily life in the garden on instagram @buildingfoodforest_scotland. They practice permaculture principles, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The Grow and Learn Course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in 2022. This year he will be completing Level 2 Nurture Course. Clayton is 16, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 6yrs. Both Katrina and husband Peter have studied the Permaculture Design Course PDC and PDC Pro over the last 5yrs, developing their garden from grass to an ongoing food forest.
They have featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens, Gardeners World Magazine and write for Scotland Grows Magazine. Katrina has a series of children’s story books out following the life of Clayton in the garden. Available at Amazon.
See more and follow Katrina & Clayton at the links below:
