Hazelnut/cobbnut root system.

[Darwin.]

Hi all, I'm thinking of planting a good few hazel or cobb nut trees about my garden. I'd like to know if they have a large root system so I can decide on the best location for them.

I'd like a few along the edge of the concrete at the back of the house, maybe 6-8 ft from it. Would that be ok? We have our own well in the front lawn, the manhole cover is easily seen but I want to plant a few foot from that, should that be alright?

I'd like more nut trees or bushes about the place but don't want to find my well suffering or my concrete crumbling in 10 years because of it.

[burnie]

Found this on google, seems they send out runners to spread themselves around.
http://www.food-skills-for-self-suff...hazelnuts.html

[Darwin.]

That's great, thanks. I have a few at the bottom of the orchard but have no idea how far they've spread. They've grown well, I have them about 5 years now and they're about 8' tall and about the same wide. They'll suit perfectly around my oak on the front lawn and then between the concrete and the lawn at the back.

[nickdub]

I've got a couple about 30 years old and 40 foot high - I figure the roots on most trees spread out roughly as far as the branches do.

[Darwin.]

I thought they only grew to about 10 foot, even out in the wild I haven't seen them any bigger than that. That would make me rethink things. I can still stick them out front around the oak but I wouldn't be putting them beside the concrete at the back. Maybe I'll just plant a few flowering bushes out there. Thanks.

[nickdub]

you can keep them smaller by pruning and branch bending of course - being lazy I haven't bothered much - the squirrels are the main beneficiaries - I put on a bit of protection sometimes to try to hang on to a few nuts for myself.

Depending on the space available you could try planting one to see how it goes - they are easy enough to propagate by bending branches down and layering them.

[Darwin.]

I planted six on the front lawn in a ring around the oak. I'll keep them all more as bushes than trees, or at least the ones closer to the house. I'll keep them at about 10' - 12' tall.

I checked the two I brought on from seed, I thought they had died. They have nice green leaves coming on again so I'll stick them in the orchard in October. They're about 12" tall at the minute.

I have a walnut down the back, it did very little for the last 5 years since I got it but it has come on lovely this year.