How to Grow and Care for Bay Laurel

Bay laurel is an evergreen plant, either as a shrub or tree, renowned for its aromatic leaves commonly used in cooking. Its pointed, oval-shaped leaves are deep green, glossy, and have a leathery feel, though fresh or dried, they release minimal aroma. Thriving in a variety of soils, bay laurel requires ample sunlight to grow well, both indoors and outdoors. It's important to note that bay laurel is toxic to pets.

Tip

Bay laurel and bay leaf are the same. However, aromatic plants such as California bay (Umbellularia californica), and others, may be mislabeled in the store as bay leaf because of the similarities in fragrance and taste.

Bay Laurel Care

Bay laurel can be grown as a pruned garden shrub or full-sized single- or multi-stemmed landscape tree. They are commonly grown in pots.

• Put a potted bay laurel plant in a sunny south- or west-facing window. Outside, it should be placed ideally in light shade.
• Plant outdoors in average, well-draining soil. When grown in a container (as it usually is), use an all-purpose potting mix.
• Water bay laurel so the soil stays moist.
• Moved potted bay laurels between indoor and outdoor locations as seasonal weather dictates.
• Provide bay laurel houseplants with extra outdoor heat and light in the summer.
  

Light

Keep your indoor bay laurel tree near a sunny window in the winter. Avoid exposure to drafts and heat from appliances and air ducts. Outdoor plants prefer partial shade but will tolerate full sun. In areas with hot, dry summers, some afternoon shade is ideal.

The plant produces the best-flavored leaves if it receives full sun for at least a portion of the year.

Soil

Plant outdoor bay laurel trees in average garden soil that drains well. The ideal pH range is 6 to 7 but laurel bay is very versatile and will tolerate a range from 4.5 to 8.3. as well as loamy, sandy, and even clay soils.

Bay laurels grown in containers can be planted in a regular commercial potting mix.

Water

Water bay laurel plant regularly to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Bay laurel roots are shallow and frequent watering could cause root rot. Allow the soil to dry somewhat between waterings but do not let it dry completely.

Temperature and Humidity

In USDA growing zones below 8, bring your bay laurel indoors for the winter and give it relatively cool but bright conditions.

If the tree begins dropping leaves, it lacks sufficient humidity. Use the leaves in cooking, and consider installing a room humidifier to increase humidity levels in your home.

Fertilizer

Feed a container-grown bay laurel plant in the spring using a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or kelp. Because bay laurel is slow-growing, it doesn’t require much food when grown outdoors in the landscape.

However, bay laurel plants grown in containers need supplemental fertilizer. It also helps to refresh the top few inches of soil each spring, being careful not to damage the shallow roots.

Types of Bay Laurel

Grow plants labeled Laurus nobilis if you plan to use the leaves for cooking and eating. Other plants are labeled with the common names bay and sweet bay, but these are not necessarily edible and are sometimes even toxic.

There are also a few ornamental cultivars of Laurus nobilis that might not have quite the same taste as the pure species plant. Here are some of the better true bay laurel cultivars.

• Laurus nobilis f. angustifolia: Also known as willow-leaf laurel, the narrow leaves of this cultivar are prized for their attractive texture when the tree is pruned.
• Laurus nobilis 'Aurea': This variety exhibits new leaves that are bright yellow and aromatic.
• Laurus nobilis 'Undulata': The leaf edges of this cultivar are rippled or wavy, making it a particularly ornamental tree.
• Laurus nobilis 'Saratoga': This is a smaller tree in the landscape, growing a maximum of 25 feet. The leaves are more rounded and lighter in color. Its leaves are good for seasoning food.

Pruning

Pruning a bay laurel is straightforward and done to control the size and shape of your plant. New dense growth will emerge from wherever you snip off the branches. Pruning is best done when the tree is not actively growing, from late winter to early spring before new growth emerges. You can prune as much or as little as you like to keep the tree small or to create a topiary artwork.

Propagating Bay Laurel

Bay laurel is relatively easy to propagate by rooting softwood cuttings. This is a slow-growing plant, so be patient. You'll need a small hand pruner, small pots, coarse sand, rooting hormone, and plastic coverings. Then follow these steps.

1. In summer, use sterile pruners to take 6-inch cuttings from green, pliable branches.
2. Fill small pots with coarse, moist sand, then dip the tip of each cutting into rooting hormone, and plant it in its container.
3. Cover containers loosely with plastic that's secured with rubber bands.
4. Place containers in a warm location with bright indirect light.
5. Within a month or two roots should develop. Tug gently on the cutting and if you feel resistance roots have formed. Remove the plastic covering and continue growing the cuttings until they are large enough for a permanent pot or an outdoor garden location.
   

Potting and Repotting Bay Laurel

Bay laurel is a popular container plant that can live for decades. To keep its size in check, use a relatively small container but one with a broad enough base to prevent the tree from toppling over in the wind.A 24-inch pot will accommodate a 5- to 6-foot tree. Grow the plant in a regular potting mix.

Bay laurel grows best when it's a little cramped in its pot, even when its roots poke out of the bottom. You shouldn’t need to repot the plant more than once every five years.

Overwintering

Potted plants moved outdoors for the summer should be brought indoors as temperatures dip below 50°F. A plant that grows fine in a partial shade outdoor location will want more sunlight in the winter—give it a sunny window or patio door. No winter protection is necessary for trees in warm-weather zones but it is a good time for pruning.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Although bay laurel leaves are often used to deter pests from other plants and in kitchen pantries, insects such as scale can still affect the plant. Moths sometimes lay eggs between two leaves and fuse them with a cottony fluff. If you see two leaves stuck together, gently peel them apart and remove the eggs or larva. Other pests common to indoor houseplants can also affect bay laurel plants, especially mealybugs and spider mites, and are best treated with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.

Bay laurel plants have some susceptibility to fungal diseases:

• Anthracnose causes the tips of the leaves to turn brown or black, then gradually die. Remove affected leaves with sterilized pruners, and treat the soil with a fungicide (anthracnose is an internal infection). Severely infected plants will need to be destroyed.
• Powdery mildew creates a whitish residue on the leaves of the plant. Treat the plant with neem oil or another horticultural oil. Improving air circulation and keeping soil surfaces clean often prevent the disease.
• Phytophthora root rot is a known problem for bay laurel plants. This fungus-like organism can cause the slow, gradual collapse of the plant. Early symptoms include the appearance of dark, gummy streaks on the bark, usually low on the stems. Fungicides may help control the disease. Regularly replacing the top few inches of potting soil also helps.

Common Problems With Bay Laurel

While this is a fairly trouble-free indoor or outdoor plant, some common problems may still occur.

Winter Dieback

Winter dieback can happen with garden-grown and potted bay laurels left outdoors too long as winter approaches. A bay laurel hit by a light frost will experience brown, dry leaves. Often the tree will recover on its own the following spring.

If your tree shows signs of die-back in the spring, prune the stems below the damage. In extreme cases, cut the entire plant to about 6 inches and allow new shoots to form from the base.

Leaf Drop and Berry Drop

It is normal for a bay laurel plant to drop some leaves shortly after it is moved indoors from an outdoor location. Don't worry if this happens. If the leaf drop is also accompanied by spotting on the leaves, the plant might have a foliar fungus that needs a fungicide treatment.

Cracked or Peeling Bark

A bay laurel that shows cracking or peeling bark might suffer from rapid changes in moisture levels or temperatures. These plants like fairly steady temperatures and constant moisture levels. This problem is rarely fatal.

Yellow or Brown Leaves

Yellow leaves usually occur because a bay laurel receives too much moisture; brown leaves happen because it's not getting enough water. Less commonly, insufficient feeding might cause yellowing leaves.

Berries Make a Mess

Berries produced by bay laurel can become messy. However, both a male and female plant are needed for flowers. and berries. Outside USDA growing zones 8 to 10, most trees are grown singly in pots where berries do not become an issue.

From: thespruce