Bay laurel is a tough, evergreen plant with glossy, deep green leaves that smell amazing and show up in a lot of recipes. You can grow it as either a shrub or a tree, and it’s pretty adaptable when it comes to soil. But it does need plenty of sunlight to really thrive, whether you keep it indoors or outside. Just remember: bay laurel isn’t safe for pets. So, if you want to grow a bay laurel tree, then you do not need to worry, as here in this guide, we will tell you all about growing Bay leaves. 

Caring and Growing a Bay Leaf Tree

Taking care of bay laurel isn’t complicated. You can shape it into a bushy garden shrub or let it stretch out as a full-sized tree. Many people grow it in pots, which works well. If you’ve got your bay laurel indoors, stick it near a sunny south- or west-facing window. Outside, give it a spot with some light shade. For soil, all-purpose potting mix does the trick for containers, and regular, well-draining garden soil works outdoors.

• Water

Water your bay laurel enough to keep the soil moist, not soggy. The roots are pretty shallow, so soaking it too often can cause problems like root rot. Let the soil dry a bit between waterings, but don’t let it go bone dry either. 

• Temperature and Humidity

If you’re growing bay laurel in a colder zone, anything below USDA zone 8, bring it inside for winter. Find it a cool, sunny spot. If you notice leaves dropping, that probably means the air is too dry. You can use a humidifier, or just snip the leaves for cooking.

• Fertilizer

For feeding, give container plants a balanced organic fertilizer, like fish emulsion or kelp, in spring. Bay laurel doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer if you grow it outdoors. But for potted plants, a little extra food helps, along with refreshing the top layer of soil each spring. Just avoid disturbing the roots.

• Pruning

Pruning is easy and lets you control its size and shape. New growth pops out where you snip. Tackle pruning from late winter to early spring, before growth starts, and shape it as much or as little as you want. Bay laurel responds well, whether you just want it neat or want to try your hand at topiary.

Propagating Bay Laurel

Propagating bay laurel isn’t too tricky, though it takes some patience since the plant grows slowly. You need to grab a pair of clean hand pruners, a few small pots, some coarse sand, rooting hormone, and a bit of plastic wrap. In the summer, snip off 6-inch pieces from branches that are still green and flexible. Fill your pots with moist, coarse sand. Dip the cut end of each cutting into rooting hormone, then stick it into the sand, one per pot.

Loosely cover each pot with plastic and hold it in place with rubber bands. Set the pots somewhere warm with bright, indirect sunlight. In a month or two, give the cuttings a little tug; if you feel some resistance, roots are growing. Once you spot new growth or the roots feel good and sturdy, take off the plastic. Let the little plants keep growing until they’re big enough to move into the garden or a larger pot.

Source: Abodelook