Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Bay Laurel Tree

I finally gave the Bay Laurel Tree a much needed trim! I have been putting it off for about a year now. I bought the tree in the spring of 2005. She was a tiny little thing measuring about 4-5" tall at the most. This morning I measured her and she was 42" high.

I did some research on how to propagate a cutting. You are supposed to trim about a 6" piece to root. The easiest way to try to propagate a piece is by using root hormone. I really hate that stuff and hide it so my "Little Garden Helper" or the cats won't get in to it. Have you ever read the label on it?? It's deadly and it really scares me to use it.

Due to the fact that I had really let her go so long without a trim, I had to cut longer pieces then you are supposed to for propagation.

Here she is before the trimming.


Here she is after her long over due haircut.
Now she is 27" tall. I am hoping that she will branch out quite a bit.

Now we have two baby Bay Laurel Trees in pots.
They are supposed to take a few months to develop roots...so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Now all they need are names....all 3 of them!!

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15 comments:

  1. meemsnycFebruary 2, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    Wow Robin, That bay laurel tree is lovely! Where did you get the original one from? I've been thinking of getting one, since I hate buying dried bay leaves at the store. Do you put it outdoors in the summer? I do hope your two new trees root up nicely!

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  2. RobinFebruary 2, 2011 at 3:17 PM

    Thanks mimi, I got the original plant at Waterloo Gardens in Devon PA. At the time I was working near Valley Forge and found this place by accident. I don't think that I have seen one since then.

    Yes, I take it outside as soon as the weather permits. It usually shoots out right before I take it outside. I think that I had it for at least 3 years before it started to branch out.

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  3. SueFebruary 2, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    I've never looked to see what is in rooting hormone---I've never used it. A neighbor gave me a bottle and it's sat on the shelf ever since. Guess I can chuck it now, huh!
    Your Bay is lovely. I've always wanted to get one, but balk at the price. But cuttings.....hmmmmm. I have a friend that keeps one on her deck. Shhhhhhh.......
    :)

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  4. Dave @ HappyAcresFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    I'll be anxious to hear how this project turns out! I've got a potted Bay, but never taken cuttings. It would be nice to make more plants, since they are somewhat expensive to buy.

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  5. RobinFebruary 2, 2011 at 5:59 PM

    Sue, you are a bad bad girl....just go in at night and take a snip!

    Villager, I was so afraid to trim it, but it had to be done. I am going to pay close attention to the newly potted cuttings and I will post an update.

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  6. Dirt LoverFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:42 PM

    Nice job! That's something I need to do. My father-in-law has a bush/tree in his backyard, and we've been thinking of starting at least one for our place here. Nice to see you doing yours. They're looking great. Please keep us updated on their progress!
    ~~Lori

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  7. PatriciaFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:31 PM

    What healthy looking trees! You must keep them happy!

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  8. Sue GarrettFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:15 AM

    Our bay has been left outside all winter so I hope it has survived!

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  9. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    I hope the new ones will develop roots. The tree looks very healthy!

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  10. RobinFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    Lori, I hope that they root. I will do an update.

    Patricia, The tree has been growing very well since I transplanted it about 1 1/2 years ago.

    GLA, A bay would never survive outside here in the winter. I hope that yours is OK.

    ana, Thanks, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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  11. DebFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:08 AM

    Thanks for posting this...I have 2 plants that I bought last year...they need trimming, but I wouldn't have thought of rooting the cuttings...great!

    Here's a link for people looking for bay laurel plants...they ship:
    http://www.raintreenursery.com/catalog/productdetails.cfm?productid=M520

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  12. RohrerbotFebruary 4, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    At first, I thought it was a ficus! That looks wonderful in a pot! I know what you mean about cats and fertilizers etc. I can't keep any plants in our place here. We have 5 cats and they destroy our plants....it's horrible!

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  13. ThomasFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    I saw some cuttings at a nursery last weekend but they were tiny! I don't know if I would have the patience to wait for them to get to a decent size. I'll have to keep an eye out for larger plants.

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  14. Eliza @ Appalachian FeetFebruary 4, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Those look so pretty in pots! My mom and I were noticing this week that our bay laurel needs a trim too... because she is 17' tall. We can grow them outdoors here and this one simply took off!

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  15. UnknownFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:20 PM

    Wow, I never thought of growing a Bay Laurel Tree and treating it as a houseplant in the winter. I use enough bay leaves in my cooking to make it worth it. I'll need to check out my local nurseries to see if they carry it. I hope your trimmings root up without any problems.

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