Transplanting, spacing - American hazelnut bush - Ask Extension
Hello, thank you again for your answer on black walnut toxicity, it was very thorough helpful. Now I have a question about American hazelnuts. I have ...
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Transplanting, spacing - American hazelnut bush #948043
Asked November 03, 2026, 7:51 AM EST
Hello, thank you again for your answer on black walnut toxicity, it was very thorough helpful. Now I have a question about American hazelnuts. I have a small (3') bush that isn't doing that well in its current location and I want to move it closer to a second, younger bush that is already larger and produced a few nuts this year.
Questions:
1. Is now a good time to transplant it, or should I wait until all of the leaves have fallen?
2. What is the appropriate spacing for the shrubs?
3. Should I mulch them?
One question about the bush that produced nuts - I was surprised it produced anything this year. Should I remove flowers/nuts for a few years to help the plant grow?
Many thanks and have a great day.
Prince George's County Maryland
Expert Response
It's fine to move it now; any time the ground isn't frozen or too wet should be okay, although the earlier in autumn it's moved, the better, so it has more time to start re-establishing roots. Their mature size varies, but could be in the range of about 8 to 10 feet wide when they are mature, so a spacing of about 10 feet between shrubs should suffice.
Mulch is always helpful to cover bare soil after transplanting (unless you were using a "live mulch" of groundcovers or other low-growing plants instead), both to insulate the soil, reduce moisture loss from evaporation, and discourage weed seed germination.
There's no need to remove flowers (catkins) or nuts on the shrub that is already producing a harvest. If the crop was energy-intensive enough to tax the plant, it might not produce as much of a crop the next year (bearing alternate years is not uncommon for fruits, and possibly nuts as well), but it's probably not going to have that great of an impact.
Miri
Mulch is always helpful to cover bare soil after transplanting (unless you were using a "live mulch" of groundcovers or other low-growing plants instead), both to insulate the soil, reduce moisture loss from evaporation, and discourage weed seed germination.
There's no need to remove flowers (catkins) or nuts on the shrub that is already producing a harvest. If the crop was energy-intensive enough to tax the plant, it might not produce as much of a crop the next year (bearing alternate years is not uncommon for fruits, and possibly nuts as well), but it's probably not going to have that great of an impact.
Miri
