How to Grow Sweet Bay Tree

Cultivation

• 1

  Start with a nursery plant. The Sweet Bay Tree is an evergreen, and to get satisfactory results it must be propagated from the cuttings of an existing plant that lives naturally outdoors all year. Members of the Laurel family do not like their roots disturbed, so purchase a container that seems much too large and will dwarf the tree when planted.

• 2

  Pot the tree by covering the drainage hole in the pot with a piece of broken crockery. Place a few small stones or additional pieces of broken crockery in the bottom. Add 3 inches of sand. Cover with potting soil; add additional soil to bring the root ball within 4 inches below the rim. Place the tree inside, then carefully add scoops of soil around the tree to fill in the pot. Compact each layer until about 1 inch from the top. Fill top with mulch and water thoroughly.

• 3

  Understand that maintenance for potted trees and plants is extremely important. The Sweet Bay Tree should not be re-potted more often than once every five years. Each spring replace the top 3 inches of soil with a fresh supply. Prune any dead or weak-looking leaves or stems, feed with an all-purpose household plant fertilizer and deeply water.

• 4

  Re-introduce to the garden on a graduated schedule of one hour per day for one week, and then work up to five hours over the next three weeks dependent upon the weather. "Too cool too soon" will result in serious leaf loss from shock, forcing the tree to return to the house or greenhouse to begin the process again.

Using Sweet Bay Tree

• 5

  When growing Sweet Bay Tree for potpourri or cooking uses, harvest leaves at their peak on a fine, sunny day after the dew has evaporated. Cut in small amounts with sharp scissors and process immediately; only cut what can be dealt with at one time.

• 6

  Take one small bunch and tie around the widest part of the leaf with raffia to hold them tightly together. Hang the bunches in a dry, well-ventilated place where they are protected from light to dry. As for all herbs, store dried leaves whole, away from light in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

• 7

  The aromatic, dark green leaves of the Sweet Bay Tree make it ideal for festive Christmas decorations. To make an impressive and welcoming wreath for the front door, push bay leaves into a base of floral foam, in a circular holder, and decorate with sprays of golden cupressus (an attractive golden foliage conifer), fir cones, shiny red apples and ribbon.

• 8

  For a spectacular fragrant table centerpiece, fill a clear glass bowl with floating candles surrounded by bay leaves.

• 9

  An attractive alternative to the traditional fir Christmas tree or for a wonderful foyer tree is the indoor potted Sweet Bay Tree studded with festive baubles. Alternatively, in mild climates the potted trees look fabulous on either side of a main entrance draped with hundreds of tiny white lights.