Potted Bay Trees

Care

• Bay trees, which are native to the Mediterranean shores, can tolerate a degree of dryness. However, bay trees should be watered regularly, especially during summer months if the plant is kept in a pot. Bay trees moved indoors to a sheltered location during winter months require very little watering. Inadequate water during the summer can cause leaves to turn brown. Fertilizer should be used with caution, as too much fertilizer will encourage the plant to quickly outgrow the container and appear imbalanced. Slow-release balanced fertilizer can be applied at the beginning of the growing season in March. A balanced liquid fertilizer can be diluted and applied to pot-grown plants every few weeks.

Overwintering

• The bay tree is only hardy from USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10, meaning that the tree can only tolerate temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Potted trees are even less tolerant, as their roots become chilled quickly. So, the bay tree must be brought indoors in cold climates in order to survive. The ideal wintertime temperatures for the bay tree are around 50 degrees at night and only about 10 degrees warmer during the daytime. The tree requires no fertilizer during the winter and less water than during the active growing season, but plants should be monitored to ensure that they do not dry out.

Shaping and Pruning

• Standard bay tree protocol calls for a total height, including the pot, of about 6 feet; the trunk should be about 42 inches long before it begins to branch. The head of the plant should be approximately proportionate to the pot. There are generally two types of pruning for this tree. The first type is top pruning, which can be done incrementally throughout the winter as bay leaves are used for cooking or potpourri. This pruning should remove only a few inches from the top and be completed by late March. Root pruning is also necessary to avoid the need for re-potting, and it prevents the tree from becoming root-bound. Before the tree begins its spring growth flush, remove the plant and gently tease about 2 or 3 inches from the bottom and sides of the mass. Cleanly trim exposed roots even with the soil. Then re-pot the tree, putting new potting compost on the bottom of the pot and in the gap around the edges.

Pests

• As an aromatic, bay trees have relatively few insect pests. If the bay is attacked by scales, wash it in warm, soapy water or treat it with a horticultural oil. Scales secrete a sugary substance that attract a gray mold. The eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly may also feed on the bay.