Check for suckers on contorted hazel

Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ makes an attractive, shrubby plant that looks its best in winter, when you can see the twisted stems and catkins. It’s propagated by grafting a contorted stem onto a hazel seedling to give the plant vigour. Occasionally the hazel rootstock will sucker and produce tall, straight stems from ground level. If they develop, remove them straight away by tearing them off the root, or cut them down to ground level. If not removed they’ll grow fast and eventually take over and dwarf the contorted stems.