Best Pot Size & Shape For a Bay Tree

About Bay Trees

• The aromatic leaves of the bay tree were once made into the laurel wreath given to Greek and Roman athletes. The name laurel is also applied to unrelated trees, such as the English laurel, a species of Prunus, and the California bay laurel, Umbellularia californica. Some of these other laurels are not edible, so be sure you buy the true laurel, the bay tree, if you will be using the leaves as an herb. Bay trees like sun, so a south or west exposure is best. They tolerate some drought but are damaged by dryness when grown in pots. Bay trees also need a well-draining soil and grow poorly if kept constantly wet.

Choosing a Container

• As a large shrub or small tree, the bay tree needs a deep pot taller than it is wide. Although small specimens a foot high don't need a big container, they should be repotted regularly as they grow. Plan on an eventual pot size of at least 2 feet across. Trees in containers larger than this grow taller and send out longer shoots in the spring. Clay pots dry out more quickly in rainy climates, but plastic or glazed pots need less frequent watering in summer. Since bay trees dislike wet soil, clay is best unless you are not able to water regularly or you live in a particularly warm and dry climate.

Repotting

• Use a fibrous, quick-draining potting mix whenever moving your bay tree to a larger container. This is especially important in plastic or glazed pots. If the roots are matted at the root ball’s edge, gently pull them apart with your fingers so they grow outward into the new soil. The new pot should be 2 to 4 inches wider than the old one and at least 2 inches deeper. Firm the soil around the roots and add a 1/2 inch on top keeping the roots covered. If you wish to keep your bay tree in the same pot but the roots are beginning to circle around inside the pot, take the tree outside, shave off an inch of root all around the rootball and repot it. Clipping off some of the small shoots reduces the number of leaves the roots must support.

Winter Care

• Many people move their bay trees into a cool or unheated greenhouse during the winter, but you can wrap the tree in plastic during cold spells or place it in a sheltered corner of a patio. Remember that plants in pots are less hardy than those growing in the ground. Some gardeners move their bay tree indoors but the warm, dry air and lack of sun makes this a less desirable solution.