The corkscrew hazel grows well in a variety of soil types in either full or partial sunlight. The soil needs to be kept moist after the first two years of planting, and afterwards occasional watering is enough. The plant should be fertilized twice a year, and it should be checked regularly for pests and blights. Regular pruning enhances its appearance.Continue Reading
The corkscrew hazel propagates mainly by grafting. If it already has roots, select a planting site with partial shade and soil that drains well. Dig the hole as deep as the roots and three times the width. Spread the roots out, cover with soil, fill the hole with water and add more soil. Apply fertilizer in spring and summer, working it into the first few inches of soil and adding water. Watch out for Japanese beetles, which can very quickly clear the plant of foliage. Pick them off your corkscrew hazel by hand and kill them by dropping them into a strong solution of dish detergent. Bumps on the stems are symptoms of eastern filbert blight. Cut off the infected branches and stems, burn them, and then disinfect the shears. Use a fungicide to protect new shoots from blight.
Corkscrew hazels are almost like bonsais, in that they are slow-growing and can easily be shaped to grow as desired. To have the plant grow as a small tree, remove the lower stems. To cause the stems to grow outward, remove the inward-facing branches. When doing routine thinning, shape the tree whichever way you want it to grow.Learn more about Gardening & Landscapes