Bay tree

xxvickixx

Hi there,
I'm a bit of a lurker on this thread but am hoping to become a bit more active this year as we are determined to have an organised attempt at veg growing this year, last year was good but a bit reactive and chaotic!

Anyway. My first (of possibly many) question is about a bay tree/bush?
I'd really like one as I use loads of bay in cooking but they are quite expensive so I want to be sure I know what to look for when buying one and how best to keep it alive.

Thanks
Vicki

janine22

Someone more knowledgeable will be along soon, but:

I've a tree and a kitchen bay shrub. Both are just in the ground, get a regular water in summer and nothing really in winter. No special treatment at all.

Both are doing well, but I'd say the shrub is better. More leaves, better growth and is more compact.

ALIBOBSY

We were lucky enough to move into a house with a bay already in. Not sure if it is a bush or tree. I think I would class it as a big bush. It gets no special treatment apart from a tidy up cut once a year. Easiest plant in the garden and leaves all year around.

ali x

xxvickixx

Thank you. I've not got a great track record with plants and I really want this to last more than a year!

alanobrien

No need to worry they are very hardy. We keep ours alive by ignoring it and only watering it when we remember Its in a pot in a shady area and even thrown up a new seedling last year.

xxvickixx

Oh that sounds like the perfect plant for me! I'm great over the summer, when I'm out in the garden I remember to give it all a water, just when the weather turns I'm not.