Perfect care for your bay tree
Watering
Use rainwater if possible.
In the summer: plenty of water in hot or dry weather.
The soil in the pot should always be completely drenched with water.
(If the soil on the root clump dries out, immerse it in a tub of water for
5 minutes) During the holidays: your garden is the ideal plant-sitter. Before
you leave dig a pit, plant the laurel in it (without the pot) and pour 1
or 2 buckets
of water over the base of the plant. In the winter: use a lot less water,
but do not let the soil dry out completely. Regularly take the plant out
of the pot to see whether it is not too wet or dry.
Repotting
In March, August or September.
Use potting soil, either plain or mixed with clay (geranium soil).
Put about 4 cm of new soil round the root-clump.
Always leave space for watering (keep the soil a few centimetres below the
rim of the pot and when you water always fill up to the top).
Trimming
Trimming to shape (January to March), for all types of bay trees:
Trim close as in a hedge: the closer it is trimmed, the more compact the
plant.
For pyramids: Top shoot - the uppermost shoot closest to the centre: trim
to 10 to 15 cm. above the previous trim-point.
For spheres in pots and on stems: Trim the shoots that extend beyond the
circumference of the sphere.
Fertilisation
Fertilise regularly but with moderation during the summer growth period.
Use liquid fertiliser or granules. Decrease fertilisation from August/September.
Insects and other enemies
Scale insect - brown oval or circular crusts on the underside of the leaves:
scrape off. Plant lice - edges of leaves curl up and turn yellow: remove leaves
from plant. Greenfly: leaves become sticky and turn black.
Winter
Laurel does not like much frost, so put the plant in a cool, frost-free place
(hall, garage). If there is no frost the plant is best left outside.
