How to plant and care for Bay Tree

Laurus nobilis

🌳 Tree 🌿 Herb 🔁 Perennial

The culinary bay: an evergreen with aromatic leaves for the kitchen all year. Easy in a pot, can be clipped into a lollipop or cone.

Growing Bay Tree: what it needs

Light: Full sun · 4+ hours a day
Watering: Water when the top of the compost is dry; keep pots on the dry side in winter
Soil: Well-drained soil or loam-based compost · pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing: 1 m or grow in a 40 cm+ pot
In pots: Grows well in containers
Feeding: Liquid feed monthly from spring to late summer for pot-grown bays
Hardiness: USDA zones 8–10
Difficulty: Easy

On planting day
Plant the Tree
Plant the bay at the same depth it grew in its pot, in a hole twice as wide as the root ball. Firm the soil and water well.
1 day after “Plant the Tree”
Water In Deeply
Soak the root area with a full watering can, then keep the soil moist (not wet) for the first few weeks.
7 days after “Water In Deeply”
Mulch the Base
Spread 5–8 cm of compost or bark mulch in a 1 m circle, keeping it clear of the trunk.

April
Start Monthly Feeds
Start a monthly liquid feed for pot-grown bays until late summer.
June
Check Leaves for Pests
Look for curled, yellowed leaf edges (bay sucker) and scale insects underneath. Pick off affected leaves.
July
Clip to Shape
Trim with secateurs (not shears) to keep a neat shape; dry the clippings for cooking.
November
Protect from Hard Frost
Bay is borderline hardy: move pots to a sheltered wall or cool greenhouse and wrap in fleece below −5°C.