Bay Laurel - Laurus nobilis
(page 2)

Planting and Care of Bay

When planting a Bay tree (Latin name Laurus nobilis), be aware that without pruning the tree will grow to 12m (40ft) high by 10m (32ft) wide. If left to grow this big, it will also take the lion's share of soil nutrients for several metres around. The Bay tree is however very suited to pruning, and can be kept to any height and width if suitable pruning is carried out.

When purchasing a Bay tree, it is likely to be either around 20cm high (9 ins) or 60 to 80cm (2ft to 2ft 9in) high. The larger the plant, the more expensive it will be. They are most commonly available in autumn / fall or mid-spring. Planting the tree is straight forward, ensure that it is planted to the same depth as the soil mark on the trunk.

If you wish to buy a Bay Laurel online now using the GardenAction approved supplier (Crocus), CLICK HERE (UK only).

Prune to shape each spring - a pair of secateurs is all that is required. During the first two years, the leaves should be harvested in moderate amounts only for use as a herb in stews and other meat dishes. Aside from applying a long-lasting fertiliser to the surrounding soil for the first two years, and watering when conditions are dry, your Bay laurel tree will be happy to look after itself.

If any weeding is required around Bay laurel, do this by hand. This is because bay has a very shallow root system which can easily be damaged by digging too near the stem.

Propagating Bay Laurel
There are three methods of propagating bay - layering, sowing seeds and taking cuttings. 

Bay Laurel seeds should be sown in the spring. Use moist, but definitely not water-saturated compost. Place the seeds on the surface and just barely cover them with dry compost. Place the container in the dark, ideally at a temperature of around 65F (21C).  Success is erratic and the seeds can take as long as 3 months to sprout a shoot. But normally they take about 3 to 4 weeks. The big danger with bay seeds is that they rot before they germinate.

Take cuttings in late summer to early autumn. It is very difficult to be successful with cuttings. Choose ripe shoots between 9 to 15cm (4 to 6in) long using a knife - leave part of the main stem (a heel) on the cutting. Trim so that only three or for leaves remain and place the cutting in a small pot filled with potting compost. Label the plant and place it in a site with no direct sunlight (a cold frame is ideal). One essential is high humidity, so a heated propagator offers the best chance of success. The cutting will have rooted after one year or so. 

Layering is done as normal. Simply bend a stem down to the ground. Using a penknife, make a small nick in the stem where it touches the soil. Cover the stem with soil and secure it there with stones or wire it down. Shoots should appear in six to twelve months. The best time to layer is in spring.

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