growing witch hazel in containers

If you don't have neutral to acid soil, plant witch hazel in a pot. Choose a large pot. Use a Best Buy compost for patio pots mixed 50:50 with ericaceous compost and add controlled-release fertiliser or liquid feed during the growing season. Witch hazels generally don't need pruning, but can become rather sprawling.

How long does it take to grow witch hazel?

Witch hazel grows very slowly, only 4 to 12 inches each year. Grown from seed, it will reach a mature flowering size in six years.

Is Witch Hazel easy to grow?

Witch Hazel Growing Requirements

Witch hazel shrubs like moist soil but are adaptable. Even though they are considered an understory plant, they will thrive in part shade to full sun. Care for witch hazel requires minimal time apart from regular water the first season and pruning only to shape as desired.

Does witch hazel need full sun?

Witch hazels perform best in full sun (or filtered shade in hotter regions), where the flowers glow like fiery embers in the backlight of the low winter sun. They prefer well-amended soil and regular water and are tolerant of acid or alkaline conditions.

How big does a witch hazel grow?

Most grow up to around 4metres although there are some smaller varieties. Flowers are predominantly yellow, but some varieties have red and orange tinges.

Is witch hazel plant poisonous to dogs?

Though witch hazel carries many beneficial effects when applied topically, it's important to know that it can be toxic to dogs. ... The witch hazel plant itself, as well as teas and tinctures made from witch hazel can also pose a problem for your dog if ingested.

Do bees like witch hazel?

Witch hazel (Hamamelis): Bees get fired up over witch hazel with its crepe-paperlike flowers in colors of orange, red and, most famously, yellow.

What type of soil does witch hazel like?

Witch hazels need good drainage. Choose a spot in full sun or partial shade and make sure the soil is well-drained. Although the advice is that witch hazels do best in a slightly acidic soil, they don't need fully ericaceous compost and can cope with neutral soil, as long as you add plenty of organic matter.

Is witch hazel a tree or a shrub?

Witch hazels are small trees/shrubs that grow 10 to 20 feet high and, sometimes, nearly as wide.

Why is my witch hazel dying?

Although witch hazel is a tough tree, it is susceptible to several fungal diseases that can cause leaves to turn brown and possibly drop from the tree. These include root rot and a disorder called honey fungus, both more prevalent when a tree grows under especially wet conditions.

What eats witch hazel?

Witch hazel has very few natural enemies. Deer occasionally browse the plant during the winter and gray squirrels may eat the brittle seeds. ... The weevil spends the adult portion of its life cycle on the witch hazel shrubs feeding on both leaves and flowers.

Do witch hazel lose their leaves?

It grows well, drops its leaves in fall, and this year we've been enjoying its bronzy buds and big golden yellow flowers.

Are there different types of witch hazel?

Will deer eat witch hazel?

Witch hazel is resistant to many pests and diseases and will tolerate light deer browsing. If deer are an issue in your landscape, protecting your young shrubs is essential, but as the shrub matures, it becomes less of an issue.

Is Witch Hazel safe for plants?

They prefer moist, well-amended, well-drained soil and regular water, and are tolerant of both acid or alkaline conditions. Its extreme cold hardiness and resistance to insects and disease make witch hazel a good choice for an easy-care planting.

When should you prune witch hazel?

Vernal or Spring Flowering Witch Hazel should be pruned in spring after flowers bud but, before they leaf out. Crossing, badly formed or damaged branches should be removed back to a main branch. Autumnal, Common or Fall Flowering Witch Hazel should be pruned in early spring before the plant leafs out.

Does witch hazel kill fleas on dogs?

Lemon, Lavender And Witch Hazel Spray

In addition to repelling fleas, witch hazel is also said to help soothe inflammation caused by flea bites. However, you might want to test a small amount of this spray on your dog's skin before using it all over, as some canines are allergic to lavender.

Is witch hazel plant poisonous?

Witch hazel is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when small doses are taken by mouth. In some people, witch hazel might cause stomach upset when taken by mouth. Large doses might cause liver problems. Witch hazel contains a cancer-causing chemical (safrole), but in amounts that are too small to be of concern.

Is Witch Hazel safe for dogs to lick?

Make sure to get alcohol-free, vegetable glycerin-based witch hazel to avoid the isopropyl alcohol used in many witch hazel products. This type of alcohol is toxic when too much is ingested (and if your dog is anything like mine, he will definitely want to lick it).

Is witch hazel good for pollinators?

The common witch hazel H. virginiana seems to have various insects as potential pollinators, including bees and flies that seek out its nectar. It is also a host plant for the larvae of the Spring Azure butterfly.

How do you prune witch hazel?

If you are pruning witch hazel to shape them, first clip out dead or damaged wood. Prune each branch back to healthy young growth. Trim out any crossing or weak branches. If you are pruning witch hazel to reduce its size, prune back the prior season's growth to two buds.

How is witch hazel pollinated?

American witchhazel is pollinated by a moth. The small, tanish to gray, hard capsules go dormant throughout the winter and then develop over the next growing season and then in autumn forcibly expel two shiny black seeds 10 to 20 feet rarely to 40 feet. The seeds then take an additional year to germinate.