Bay Tree Care Guide

Bay trees (also known as Sweet Bay, Bay Laurel or Laurus nobilis) are popular garden trees. Their evergreen foliage is smart and easy to clip, making them ideal for training into topiary shapes, while the richly aromatic leaves can be used in cooking to flavour stews and soups. If you are looking to buy a bay tree or already have one, our guide has all the instructions you’ll need to care for your bay tree and get the best from it.

Bay Tree Profile

Bay trees are native to the Mediterranean and are easy, undemanding trees to grow. Here are their key features:

• They are hardy down to about -5℃
• They should be grown in a sheltered spot in full sun or a partially shaded location
• They can be grown in any well-drained fertile soil
• They require only moderate watering
• Prune for shape in spring or summer, using secateurs
• Harder or regenerative pruning is best done in spring
• Feeding is best done during the growing season
• They can be grown in the ground or in containers
• They are available in many shapes and sizes; for example, twisted bay trees have stems that are trained in a single spiral, while double spirals combine two stems in a helix formation
• They are slow-growing but can reach heights of up to 8 metres. However, they respond well to pruning and are easy to keep at a manageable size

How & where to plant a bay tree

As with any tree, choosing the right spot to plant your bay tree is important – take a little care with it, and your tree will reward you for many years. Alternatively, planting in a container gives you the flexibility to move it and position it where you like.

Here are our top tips on planting bay trees.

How to plant a bay tree in the ground

Planting a potted bay tree can be accomplished in a few simple steps:

• Improve the soil in the planting area by digging in some compost or soil improver
• Add some horticultural grit to improve the drainage if the soil is heavy
• Dig a planting hole that is slightly larger than the plant’s root ball
• Sprinkle some mycorrhizal fungi on the bottom of the planting hole
• Gently tease a few roots loose from the root ball if it is particularly congested
• Place it in the planting hole, ensuring that it is straight and upright (a bamboo cane in the planting hole can be helpful)
• Replace the soil in the planting hole and firm the soil around the rootball
• Water well and keep watered regularly for the first year until the tree is fully established

Feeding your bay tree

Generally speaking, bay trees are not greedy, but those grown in pots do need regular feeding throughout the spring and summer. Add slow-release granules to the soil every couple of weeks or apply a liquid foliar feed, well-diluted, watered onto the leaves. Repot container grown trees every couple of years in early spring; changing the soil will provide extra nutrients to help them flourish.

Watering your bay tree

Being native to the Mediterranean region, they do not require excessive watering. Still, you will need to water young bay trees regularly during the first year of growth until they are fully established. Water thoroughly every couple of weeks; you can check if you need to water by digging a small hole near the tree to see if the soil is dry. The care of bay trees in pots is slightly more demanding in that container grown bay trees need to be watered more often, every two days or so in the summer. They hate being waterlogged, however, so avoid overwatering and do not let the roots stand in water.

How and when to prune a bay tree

The best time to prune a bay tree is in spring and summer; regular pruning will encourage bushy growth and help maintain a tidy shape.

• Use sharp secateurs (it’s a good idea to disinfect these before and after pruning to help prevent the spread of disease)
• Make your pruning cuts between leaf nodes and avoid cutting through leaves, as this looks unsightly
• Prune new shoots to a bud facing in the direction you want it to grow
• In spring, after the risk of frost has passed, trim away any leaves that have turned yellow or brown through frost damage
• Mature bay trees can be hard pruned in early spring (this is sometimes called renovation pruning); this is best done over two or three seasons to avoid shocking the tree
• You can snip a few leaves for use in the kitchen at any time of the year

Harvesting your bay tree

Used fresh or dried, the dark green leaves of Sweet Bay are a versatile addition to the spice rack, adding a delicious peppery warmth to savoury dishes as well as also being used to accent mulled wine and sweet dishes like rice pudding. Along with parsley and thyme, bay leaves are an essential component in bouquet garni, the traditional flavour bomb of herbs used in classical French cuisine. Harvesting bay leaves could not be easier. Simply pick a few by hand, or snip off several at a time using kitchen scissors or secateurs.

How to care for a bay tree in winter

Although bay trees are hardy down to -5 ℃, they can be damaged by frost and cold winds. Here are a few tips for bay tree winter care in the UK:

• Plant your tree in a sheltered situation to help to avoid the worst of the winter weather
• Use horticultural fleece or bubble wrap to protect young or container grown bay trees over the winter
• Move container grown bay trees into a frost free greenhouse, porch or garage over the winter months

Is tomato feed good for bay trees?

Tomato food is sometimes recommended for pot grown bay trees but is not necessary. Slow release fertiliser granules are the best way of providing a gradual supply of essential nutrients to your plants over the growing season. There is no need to feed them during winter.

Should I remove brown leaves from a bay tree?

Brown leaves on a bay laurel tree look unattractive and could be a sign that it needs some extra care. Remove brown or yellowing leaves from the tree, taking a closer look as you do so. Affected leaves may be discoloured due to frost or wind damage, excessive heat or nutrient deficiency.

If the leaves are curling at the leaf margins and beginning to turn yellow, the culprit may be bay sucker, one of the most common pests that affect bay trees. These tiny grey-white insects can be found on the underside of the leaves, but they do not usually cause long-term damage to the health of the tree. Pick off affected leaves and try to attract beneficial predators to the tree, or use an organic pesticide to control a serious infestation.

Key takeaway

With their fragrant, evergreen foliage, bay trees are a valuable source of year round interest in the garden. With regular trimming, you can easily keep them the height and shape you want, making them suitable for all styles and sizes of garden. Their culinary prowess makes them even more irresistible!  

As we have shown, bay trees are fuss free and have straightforward watering and feeding needs.  Whatever kind of laurel bay tree you are looking for, whether a bush that you can train, a ready-made standard lollipop or a twisted stem bay – Ashridge’s bay tree selection offers plenty of choice. And now that you know how to care for them, you can grow them with confidence.