The bay tree is more than just a pretty face in the garden!
I’ll explore the world of bay trees, from the different varieties you can choose from to their surprising culinary uses.
I will equip you with the knowledge to cultivate your fragrant friend, guiding you through planting, care, and troubleshooting common problems.
So let’s take a seat, grab a coffee, and dig into the beauty surrounding the bay tree.
Quick Summary – Bay Tree
This guide digs deep into the world of bay trees!
We will explore different types of bays, from the popular Laurus nobilis to more unique options.
While also discovering their environmental benefits, and showing off their potential in the kitchen. Learning to sort common problems and harvest your fragrant bay leaves.
I will guide you through choosing the right bay tree for you and your garden, planting it with confidence, and giving it the care it needs to keep on thriving.
Below we go into:
- What Is a Bay Tree
- Benefits of A Bay Tree
- Growing a Bay Tree
- Baytree Care
- Potential Problems and Solutions
- Harvesting and Storing Bay Leaves
This guide could convince you to bring the beauty of bay trees into your life!
What Is a Bay Tree
The evergreen bay tree Laurus can be transformed into a tree or a shrub depending on what your requirements are for your gardens. They do come in a variety of sizes sometimes reaching as tall as 18 meters. The most common bay tree would be the bay laurel.
The bay tree also grows stunning male and female flowers. The Bay Laurel grows the female flowers while other varieties can grow males or even both.
The flowers are often yellow or green. The flowers grow attached to the bottom of your leaves. They grow to around 1cm in diameter while the leaves grow from 6-12cm long. The female flowers can turn into a berry-like fruit black in colour. This is only if another tree is present that can pollinate it.
If there aren’t any more bays around then the flowers won’t produce any fruit and eventually die off. The bay tree leaves can also be used in the kitchen creating the perfect flavour for your soups and many more dishes. These can be used fresh or dry.
When it comes to the bay leaves this is the most common herb to use in many dishes around the world. You can even buy it in supermarkets. The leaf is aromatic which is commonly used in many cuisines as a herb. This herb adds flavour to the dishes it’s added to making them stand out from the rest. The leaf is a glossy green when fresh, when dried out it turns into a dull dark green colour. You can get the leaves from a range of bay trees; the most common bay would be the Laurus Nobilis. The other types of bay you can get this amazing herb from are:
- California Bay Laurel
- Indian Bay
- Mexican Bay
The bay leaves are full of essential oils like eucalyptol, terpenes, and methyleugenol. Having these essential oils within the leaf creates the aroma and taste of your dishes. One thing that is recommended to do is to remove the leaves from your cooking before you eat it as it can in fact cause digestive issues. As well as cooking the leaves can be used as insect repellent. My gran used to always place a few in her pantry when she had issues with bugs. Fresh or dried leaves always kept the moths, mice, and earwigs away from her pantry.
The Fruit of the bay tree is usually found on the Bay Laurus. Some people do say these are edible and others say they shouldn’t be eaten, they are only ornamental. I would recommend keeping these blackberries as ornamental only for several reasons.
- It doesn’t taste very nice. The fruit flesh is quite dry as much as it reminds me of a little avocado. It’s something I wouldn’t want to try.
- It’s mildly toxic as the tree is part of the Lauracease family. This family of plants does include some poisonous plants. The fruit isn’t considered to be highly toxic; it can cause stomach upset, nausea, and vomiting.
It is indeed best to stick to only using the bay leaves for your culinary purposes. With these being used all around the world and sold in supermarkets you know they are safe when used correctly.
The most common bay tree that is everyone’s go-to is the Laurus Nobilis; it has glossy dark green leaves. These leaves go into a point. This is an evergreen tree or shrub, which also produces yellow flowers followed by ornamental back berries. Even though the Laurus Nobilis is the favorite among most gardeners there are a few bays you can pick from:
- Laurus Nobilis Aurea / yellow-leafed bay tree – This bay is a large evergreen and it still produces aromatic bay leaves. These leaves are often bright yellow in winter and spring giving your garden a little spruce of colour. They also grow clusters of green or yellow male flowers in springtime.
- Laurus Nobilis f.Augustifolia / willow leaves Laurel – This bay tree is also an evergreen among its relatives; the difference here is it grows smaller and the leaves have a different appearance. They are long and narrow with wavy edges. They do still produce the same flowers which are yellow or green.
Did you know?
That bay trees are not just decorative? The aromatic leaves we know for cooking are actually from the bay tree, also called bay laurel (Laurus nobilis). They’re a popular addition to soups, stews, and many other dishes!
Benefits of Bay Trees
When it comes to the Bay Tee there are many benefits that you can get from this one tree. These include different ways you can use the bay tree for example greenery in your gardens or adding the dried leaves to your cooking.
This Tree also has environmental benefits too. The one that will shock you is the bay tree can also have health benefits that have been scientifically proven. Below I will go into depth with each topic to make you aware of these beautiful benefits of the bay tree..
Other than the bay tree being a beautiful addition to your landscape it also has some amazing uses. These uses consist of being the perfect environment for wildlife.
Their leaves are an amazing addition to many traditional dishes and The yellow bay tree gives you a wider range of colours to add to your garden.
Not only this you can prune your bay tree into a shrub or a tree. You can create a twisted stem for your trees too. They are the perfect tree and shrub to create and prune stunning shapes to enhance your gardens.
The bay tree has some amazing environmental benefits. It’s Not just used in the kitchen, it plays a crucial part in the environment.
The beautiful foliage offers a haven for wildlife within your gardens. The bays’ foliage and branches offer the perfect accommodation for birds to build their nests and take shelter in bad weather.
The bay flowers also play a key part in the wildlife as they attract bees which will contribute to the pollination process that they take care of.
Did you know?
Did you know that bay trees, with their dense foliage and bushy branches, are like little wildlife apartment buildings? They provide vital shelter and nesting sites for many bird species. On top of that, the tiny flowers of bay trees attract bees and other pollinators, helping out the whole garden ecosystem!
Growing a Bay Tree
When you consider getting a bay tree and growing one yourself I wouldn’t say it’s a hard task to achieve. Below I will go into the requirements that are needed to have your bay tree grow successfully.
Making sure you have the correct planting techniques while taking into account the right location will guarantee your bay tree to thrive in your gardens. The best time to plant your bay tree would be spring to early summer for the best outcome.
The first thing you need to make sure you have right is the soil and the requirements for the bay tree.
The soil needs to be free-draining so it doesn’t become waterlogged. If you are planning in a container then you need to make sure the container is slightly wider than the root ball and filled with soil-based compost.
I would recommend John Innes No 2. You could however use a multi-purpose compost that has added grit to help with the drainage within your pots. The bay tree is quite tolerant to most soil conditions. So this included slightly acidic and alkaline soil.
When it comes to planting your bay tree in the ground or a pot is quite simple. For ground planting and container planting all you need to do is:
- Dig a hole that is double the size of your bay tree’s root ball wide and deep.
- Water the soil or compost making sure you have allowed the water to drain away before planting
- Once the water has drained away you can carefully place your bay tree into its hole keeping it up vertically.
- Add extra compost for nutrition and to fill in the hole Remember to firmly press down around the base to ensure your bay tree is secure giving it good contact with the roots and the soil.
You need to make sure you pick the right location for your bay tree to enhance its growth. It is recommended to pick a warm and sheltered area in the garden. You need to make sure it will be protected from strong winds so its stem doesn’t snap.
Picking a waterlogged area in the garden too isn’t the best option. You need to make sure it is a free-draining area to stop any risk of root rot forming.
If you don’t have an area in your garden that is suitable then your other option would be to get a big enough flower pot and plant it in there. The advantage of this is you can move it freely around your garden to protect it from winds. You can even move it into your greenhouse in the winter to help protect it against the frosty months. The disadvantage of this is when a bay tree is planted in the ground it does become hardier. So I would recommend that if a pot is your only option you should protect it from the frost as much as you can.
Your bay tree should be planted in full sun or partial shade for it to thrive in the summer months.
If you are considering making your beautiful bay tree into a hedge you need to make sure you have the correct spacing.
The hole needs to be twice as wide and deep as the root ball. You also need to allow at least 2m between each plant. Leaving 2 m does seem to be a lot but this will give your bay tree room to expand its roots and foliage to create the perfect bay hedge.
I would recommend adding some extra compost when planting just to give it a boost in nutrition and help it become established in its new environment.
The bay tree is hardy to temperatures as low as -5°C. They can however withstand slightly lower conditions with the correct sheltered area. The bay is typically going to be hardier when planted into the ground rather than being potted. So if you have an area in your garden that would fulfill all the bay’s needs then you shouldn’t come across any issues with the weather conditions.
If you do come across issues where your bay is planted and your bay becomes frozen and damaged then there are a few things you can do to help and protect it. You could buy a horticultural fleece for the protection or you can make one yourself with bin bags and rope to wrap it up. Both of these options do work in protecting your bay tree. This is typically used when your bay tree hasn’t matured and is in the younger stages of its growing cycle.
Did you know?
Did you know that while you wouldn’t eat a bay leaf straight out of hand, it packs a bit of a nutritious punch? Bay leaves contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C, B6, calcium, iron, and manganese. These add a tiny boost of good stuff to your food, even though the bay leaf itself is usually removed before eating.
Baytree Care
Owning a bay tree can feel like a challenging experience when it comes to tree care. Overall it isn’t as scary as it seems with the correct procedures and techniques in place.
All that is required to keep your bay tree thriving is taking care of its watering needs, nutrition, sunlight requirements, pruning, and pest and disease management. Below I will give you knowledge of all these requirements with tips and advice you can put into use to see your bay tree grow all year round.
When it comes down to your bay tree and its watering needs you need to take into account how it is planted. If your bay tree is in the ground or a pot then it does require different watering schedules.
For potted bay trees this is the advice I will give regarding watering requirements:
- Water your potted bay tree every 2-3 days in summer or dry spells.
- Check your soil for dryness, dig a little hole, and see if your soil is dry this will tell you if your bay tree needs watering.
With the potted bay tree, they are a lot more demanding as the soil does dry out quicker than ground-planted bay trees. Giving your bay tree too much water will cause root rot. So allow the excess water to drain away.
When it comes to ground-planted bay trees the watering schedule is less demanding than potted. This is because the bay tree can spread its roots in search of its watering requirements. You do still need to water your ground-plated bay tree and this is what I advise for this:
- Water your ground-planted bay tree every couple of weeks.
- If your soil looks a little dry before the 2 weeks you can check the soil, by digging a hole a few inches deep.
Overall the watering requirements aren’t too extreme and they can be done on your flower watering schedules. I usually check my bay tree when I go and water my entire garden. I find this the easiest way to make sure my bay tree gets the watering requirements it needs.
During the growing season for your bay tree in summer fertilising and nutrition is very beneficial to help it on the way with its growing cycle. It’s always recommended to fertlise your bay tree with a slow-release balanced fertiliser something like miracle-gro. Just always make sure that you check the back of your fertiliser to make sure that the bay tree is suitable for the fertiliser you pick.
For ground-planted bay trees, you would ideally want to apply this every month in spring and summer. What this will do is prevent nutrient deficiency. If your bay tree does lack nutrients then its leaves will turn yellow so this is the telltale sign your bay tree needs your help.
If you have a potted bay tree then you would ideally want to fertilise it every few weeks in spring and summer as the fertiliser can escape through the holes in the bottom of the pot. I would use a liquid fertiliser for this one. You should also make sure that you repot your bay tree in a bigger pot every 2-3 years to cater to its growing needs.
When it comes to sunlight requirements for your bay tree it’s as simple as choosing a warm and sheltered planting site. Letting your bay tree have direct sunlight for around 6 hours a day will benefit your bay tree’s growth.
You need to also pick a sheltered place in your garden to protect it from The strong winds. If your bay tree is in shade for part of the day then this isn’t an issue as it does still thrive in sunny and partial shade situations. They can also cope with -5 degrees but this can become an issue for your glossy green foliage as they might suffer from damage.
The best time to prune your bay tree is in spring and summer. The best thing about a bay tree is you can create a topiary or a shrub. There are a range of shapes and sizes you can go for when it comes down to your bay tree. I love the ball shapes with the twisted trunk.
The key to topiary pruning or even general pruning is to take several cuttings in your single growing season. You can start with a hard prune to conduct the desired shape you require. After this, you then keep on top of your shape snipping away any leaves or branches that become out of line.
Depending on how you have trained your bay depends on what you need to do when it comes to pruning.
These need to be trimmed back with secateurs in the summertime. What this will do is create your foliage to be a dense habitat while it maintains the desired shape that you have created.
The part you need to prune is the new shoots at the node. If you take a look closely you will be able to prune your bay to make sure it grows in the desired direction. This would be down to the bud and which way that it is growing. If it’s growing in the direction you want then I would leave that one to shoot.
If you have a shrub-trained bay tree then this can be quite easy when it comes to pruning. Using your secateurs, trim back the lower leaf or bud. What this does is it keeps your bay neat and tidy while maintaining its shape.
- Damaged Leaves- while you are pruning always remove any damaged leaves. This is beneficial as the nutrients will divert to the fresh shoots for growth.
- Mature Bay Trees- Your mature bay tree can tolerate a hard prune. The only issue with this would be it will take time to recover and grow back. What I would recommend for you to do if you do need to do a hard prune and that would be to make sure you do this over a few seasons. This would be less stress on your bay tree. You would also feel better too as your Bay would still have leaves left to show off in your gardens.
Did you know?
Did you know that bay trees are one of the most popular choices for topiary, the art of training trees and shrubs into specific shapes? Their small, dense leaves hold their shape well and tolerate regular pruning. Bay trees can be sculpted into classic shapes like lollipops (standards) or spheres, but you can also get creative with spirals, pyramids, or even animals! If you’re patient and have a good pruning plan, you can turn your bay tree into a unique topiary masterpiece.
Potential Bay Tree Problems and Solutions
Sometimes when you do own a bay tree it’s the centerpiece of your garden showing off its outstanding herb leaves and beautiful flowers. You ideally want it to thrive all year, on the odd occasion this isn’t the case and you may come into contact with some potential problems.
This could be brown leaves, slow growth, pests or diseases, and even environmental stress. There’s no need to worry though below I will go through everything. From the problem to the solution make sure that you can be proud to have the bay tree in your garden for years to come.
he most common pests and diseases that you will come across when it comes to the bay tree are bay sucker, aphids, horse chestnut scale, soft scale, root rot, canker, and sudden oak rot.
What the pests do is they feed on your bay leaves with them being extremely tasty. They even feed on your branches and bark, weakening them, and causing your bay to become stressed. What happens after is the leaves end up withering and dying then eventually falling off your tree or shrub.
The main ways to control these pests would be by removing them yourself by hand or using a water spray to blast them off. If this for some reason doesn’t work then you can use pest control sprays and treatments to kill them completely.
The diseases eat away at your bark and roots. What will happen here is your roots will become weak and struggle to support your bay. Also what can happen is the bark will decay leaving a black hole which will also weaken your whole tree or shrub. One of the symptoms of the disease is black dots on your leaves.
We can prevent root rot by not over-watering and leaving the bay in waterlogged conditions. For any other diseases like canker you can use fungicide treatment this should be applied to the infected area weekly until you see improvement.
The most common cause of brown or yellow leaves being under watering. You need to make sure that your soil never dries out. Keep checking your bay tree every week in dry seasons if it is planted in the ground if potted then every few days is when you would do your checks. Leaving your bay tree without the watering requirements it needs will lead to its beautiful tasty leaves turning brown or yellow and unable to be used. Making sure you get a good grasp on your watering schedule will ensure your bay tree will keep looking fun and healthy for years to come.
The bay tree is a slow-growing tree; it does take many years for it to grow to around 8m tall. With this being said this is why many gardeners prune and train it into topiary, or even create bay hedges.
This has become a tradition among many gardens. When the bay tree is trained how you like it it adds a touch of formality and cleanliness to your garden giving you that special edge over anyone else’s.
Environmental stress for your bay tree can become an issue. This can cause peeling or cracked bark. This would be down to the temperature changes.
What happens is the moisture levels fluctuate and the bay tree becomes under stress from this. The bay tree can cope with temperatures down to -5 degrees but it does become very vulnerable when the temperatures change too frequently.
If the temperature drops below -5 then this will be the cause of peeling bark. What you can do to prevent this is to wrap your pay up in blanket bin liners or buy a bay coat for it online.
Did you know?
Did you know that bay trees are incredibly long-lived? While some sources say their average lifespan is around 60 years, there are documented cases of bay trees thriving for centuries. Imagine, a bay tree you plant today could be enjoyed by your grandchildren or even great-grandchildren! That’s a legacy you can grow in your own backyard.
Harvesting and Storing Bay Leaves
Harvesting and storing your bay leaves is extremely easy when you know the right procedure. Knowing when to harvest is the most important part when it comes to starting this process. Then it’s as easy as using the correct harvesting methods, drying out your leaves, and then storing them for use.
Below I will go into how you can get the right procedure in place so you don’t miss out on adding this amazing herb to your cooking. You can even surprise the family with dinner by adding your freshly grown herb to your dish.
The reason why we harvest the bay tree is for cooking purposes only. Its leaves can be added to your dishes to give them extra flavor and wow your guests when they try your meals.
The best time to harvest your bay tree would be in mid-May to June. For example, when you have an extremely sunny day I would harvest my leaves around 13:00 as this would be the hottest part of the day. You do this because this is when the oil in the leaves is at the peak for flavor. You can also go for the older leaves too as these will hold more oils and produce more flavour.
How I usually harvest my bay tree is just simply by hand. I pinch off the leaves that I need at the time.
If the weather has been a little unusual and we haven’t had much sun when we get that beautiful day I usually get my secateurs and snip off more bay leaves which means I will then beagle to dry them out and store them for all the uses that I require them for in my cooking or to keep insects away.
When it comes to drying bay leaves I hang them in my pantry. Or place them on a baking sheet covered with a paper towel. This is a dry and airy place where the bay leaves can dry out naturally.
This process usually takes around 2 weeks to complete making sure you flip them after the first week for even drying. I always make sure I have extra in case I need to use them unexpectedly in the future. You know when your bay leaves are ready because they will easily snap or crumble when you bend them. I have found this method to preserve their oils better than oven drying.
Alternatively, you can place them on a baking sheet and let them dry at the lowest temperature on your cooker. This should take around 1-2 hours to complete. Always keep your eye on the bay leaves as you don’t want them to burn. Make sure you are flipping them every 15-20 minutes for them to evenly dry out. Again you will know when the leaves are ready as they will be easy to snap and crumble.
When you have finished your drying process for your bay leaves then you need to take care of the correct storing process.
You need to get an airtight container to place your leaves in. This is so moisture doesn’t enter and affect the dried leaves. You also need to make sure you keep them in a cool place so away from sunlight.
Doing this will ensure that your bay leaves will last for around 2 years before their aroma and flavours disappear. Alternatively, you can freeze your bay leaves. Doing this will make the aroma and flavours last longer than they do when they are stored in an airtight container.
In this guide we have covered all things bay trees, you should now have a good understanding of how to water, fertilise, remove those sneaky pests, help with diseases or prevent them from happening, and harvest your bay leaves to add to your cooking.
Not only have we gone into this but you will also know about different types of bay trees. With this knowledge, you will be able to transform your garden into a dream by adding a stunning bay tree to your landscape and your cooking.
