The witch hazel blooms most beautifully when it is in a sunny and sheltered place, for example on a house wall. Then it opens its colorful, bizarre flowers in winter and becomes an eye-catcher in every garden.
The witch hazel must be in a suitable location, otherwise it will not bloom
But the witch hazel also tolerates partial shade quite well. In very frosty temperatures, the petals curl up, so they should be protected from icy winds. If the root ball of the witch hazel dries out too much, it will not flower. Therefore, protect a dry soil from drying out with a layer of mulch.
What claims does the witch hazel make?
The witch hazel is often described as easy to care for, but it makes quite high demands on the soil. Since it does not tolerate waterlogging at all, the soil should be loose and permeable, preferably rich in nutrients and low in lime. If the ground is too firm, loosen it up with some coarse sand or gravel.
To bring nutrients into the soil, use organic fertilizers such as horn shavings, aged compost or well-rotted manure. If you have to water the witch hazel during a longer dry period in summer, it is best to use rainwater, because tap water often contains too much lime.
The best for the witch hazel:
- choose a location that is as sunny as possible
- sheltered from the wind
- loose, permeable soil
- possibly loosen up with sand or gravel
- enrich nutrient-poor soil
- use organic fertilizers such as compost, horn shavings or manure
- Don't let the root ball dry out
- Water with low-lime water, preferably with rainwater
tips
In the right location (sunny and sheltered), your witch hazel will thrive without any special care and will flower relatively reliably.