Laurel is a beautiful evergreen tree. Since the laurel tree grows slowly, it is also kept as an ornamental plant, especially in the form of topiary shapes. Laurels are ideal for use in the topiary !.
This beautiful evergreen is an ideal candidate for your garden as it has attractive foliage and is easy to maintain. Even better, it is used as a spice in many kitchens. It is often used in slow-cooking recipes like soups and stews, but is also an important flavor note in rice dishes like Jambalaya.
You will be surprised that the elliptical leaves of this tree are dried and used as packs for licorice. The articles are then shipped all over the world. In China, the bay leaf is also used in rice packaging to give the rice a weak aromatic note.
Whether in containers or in the ground, a laurel tree can be an amazing addition to your landscape endeavors. In addition, you can use these leaves culinary for their herbaceous taste. What is not to love
Get a laurel tree
Good products for growing laurel:
Brief instructions on care
Laurel trees produce the sweet bay leaves that we use for cooking. Source: juanantoniomosquera
| Common Name (s) | Sweet bay, laurel, real laurel, laurel, Greek laurel |
| Scientific name | Laurus nobilis |
| Days to harvest | Harvest individual leaves all year round |
| light | Full sun |
| Water: | Just don't let it float if necessary |
| ground | Well permeable with a pH range between 5.5 and 7.5 |
| fertilizer | Twice a year (early spring / early summer) |
| Pests | Laurel suckers, scale insects, aphids, beetles |
| Diseases | Anthracnose, downy mildew, powdery mildew, phytophthora root rot |
All about Bay Laurel
Bay leaves grow in pairs along their stems. Source: Briweldon
Bay laurel bears the botanical name Laurus nobilis. It comes from the Mediterranean region, but has become popular worldwide. Laurus nobilis produces the famous bay leaf, which is often used as a spice. Other common names for the Laurus nobilis tree are sweet bay, laurel, true laurel, Greek laurel and laurel.
The laurel tree is evergreen and grows smooth, bald leaves. It belongs to the Lauraceae family of flowering plants. When grown in containers, it remains compact, typically less than 6 feet tall. Planted in the ground, it often reaches 20 or more feet high.
The leaves are dark green, shiny and oval. They have a smooth leathery texture and feel slightly thick. The laurel tree is not only used as an herb, but also grows in spring with beautiful yellowish-green flowers. Laurus nobilis is dioecious, which means that the tree is not self-pollinating. You need both a male and a female plant to get more than leaves and flowers.
When pollination occurs between male and female plants, the flowers of the female laurel tree are followed by purple-black berries with a seed. Laurus nobilis has a widespread root system, so it is important to keep a safe distance when planting it near your home or other structures. The roots can easily penetrate leaky pipes. Therefore, do not plant them near water or sewage pipes.
The tree can be cultivated as an ornamental plant or as a shade tree. Laurels are often used to create an attractive topiary in the form of upright stems with box-shaped, spherical or twisted crowns. One of the most popular forms is the lollipop bay. However, if it is allowed to grow naturally, it will mature into a full-size tree.
With proper care and maintenance, you can even grow a Laurus nobilis hedge, although a creative cut is required to keep it low. The leaves are versatile and attractive, so that in ancient Greece they were woven as wreaths and crowns by winners.
When cooking, Bouquet garni is made from the bay – a bundle of leafy herbs that are used to cook casseroles, soups and stews. Individual sheets can also be placed directly in the saucepan. They must be removed before serving, as the leaf remains woody and unsightly, but gives the liquid in which it is cooked a nice taste.
To harvest bay leaves, the plants should be at least 2 years old. The leaves of the tree can then be used for culinary purposes to add a special aroma and taste. Older, larger leaves usually have more taste than the younger leaves.
Plant Bay Laurel
Bay is a slow growing tree. This young sapling still has years to go! Source: dan.kristiansen
Bay laurel can easily be grown in the southern United States. It requires a warmer, more Mediterranean climate and doesn't work as well in colder regions.
When to plant
In the US, root-free trees should be planted in very late winter or early spring, depending on the region. Because the bay prefers warmer climates, gardeners in areas with heavy frost should plant indoors in containers. You need to plant your tree if it is still a bit dormant before it wakes up and brings new growth. This gives him the best chance to adapt to his new location.
Where to plant
Young trees are susceptible to wind, whether hot or cold. Choose a place where the tree has a windbreak nearby so it won't be hit by the air!
Choose a place where your tree gets full sun all year round. While they can do well in partially shaded locations, they grow best with at least eight hours of sunlight a day.
Plants from containers can be moved indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. Indoors, they need to be in a place where they get their daily dose of sunlight through a window. Alternatively, you can set up a growing light to provide additional lighting. Use a pot that matches the size of the tree and its age. Keep it away from drafty areas or heating slots.
How to plant
Your plant is either bare-rooted or in a pot. If it is a root-free bag, make a note of where the bag is tied to the trunk as this is the maximum planting depth. Potted trees should not be planted deeper than they were planted in the pot.
Before planting, loosen and change the soil on which the tree is located. It is important that it is well drained. Therefore, soil improvers may need to be added for floors that bake on a hard, less permeable surface to improve drainage. For a one-year-old sapling, loosen an area with a diameter of at least 3 feet and a depth of at least 2 to 3 feet.
Once your soil is loose and has been treated with compost or other soil improvers, make a pile of earth in the middle of the hole. Place your root-free tree on the hill and position the roots evenly around the hill. Fill the soil with modified soil.
Plants in containers need a pot size that corresponds to the age of the plant. While a very young plant can be as small as a 5-gallon pot in the first 6 months, annual or older plants need a much larger pot.
Bay Laurel Care
Laurus nobilis flowers can be breathtakingly beautiful in full bloom. Source: Pascal Rey
Laurel can be used as a sieve or hedge plant, provided there is another windbreak nearby. It can also be a great container topiary. But how do you care? Let’s discuss that.
Sun and temperature
8 hours of good sunlight are ideal for laurel trees. You can survive in warmer climates with some shade in the afternoon, but if possible, have no less than 6 hours of sun.
USDA hardiness zones 8-10 are ideal for this plant. They work well at temperatures from 45 to 90 degrees, but their ideal growth temperature is 60 to 75 degrees.
While the bay can survive in colder weather, problems arise as soon as the temperature drops below freezing. As a warmer climate that is evergreen, it is not used to long periods of freezing. When it reaches 20 degrees Fahrenheit, your tree will take real damage. Those who live in deep-freeze climates (for example, people in the northeastern United States like New York) should plan to grow their bay with containers and take them home for the winter.
Extreme heat can also cause some problems. Temperatures that are constantly above 100 degrees can damage the leaves from sunburn, and the soil dries out much faster. You need to water more often and expect that some of the foliage may not be suitable for later harvest.
Irrigation and humidity
While the sweet laurel tree absolutely hates having wet feet, it still needs to be watered. Make sure your floor drains excess water well, and then give about 1 inch of water a week. It is best to water in the morning, and slow, gradual watering that can penetrate the soil around the roots is better than flooding the base. A drinking hose does this very well, or simply turn your hose to a very low trickle.
As the temperature warms, increase your irrigation frequency from long, slow watering once a week to about twice a week. The floor loses a lot of moisture in hot weather. Mulch can slow down the evaporation of soil moisture, but make sure that the mulch is not directly against the trunk, as this can promote stem rot. Hold about 6 inches between the mulch and the tree trunk.
A potted laurel tree needs to be watered more often due to the lower amount of soil that needs to hold its moisture. In hot weather, daily watering is a good idea. For the rest of the year, a few good showers a week are fine.
Before watering, stick your finger in the ground near the trunk, at least one to two inches deep, if possible. If you feel moisture, you can skip watering for the time being and check again later.
Bay tolerates very humid conditions, but is best suited when the average humidity is around 40%.
ground
This tree is not very picky about its soil. It can grow well in any soil type, whether it is sandy soil, hard packed clay or a nice loose clay. The only real requirement is that the soil has to drain excess water very well so that it doesn't get damp or muddy. Like many trees, it is also prone to root rot in damp soils.
Again, the pH of the soil is not a big problem. From slightly acidic to slightly alkaline (5.5-7.5), everything is fine. Aim for neutral conditions as a basis when testing your pH and you'll be fine.
Fertilize
A slow-release granular fertilizer that is applied in early spring with a second dose in early summer should be enough to feed your bay. Aim for a balanced fertilizer, but if you don't have this option, a high nitrogen fertilizer should be fine. Choose a seaweed emulsion for liquid fertilizers.
Pruning / training
Laurus nobilis grows slowly and is therefore particularly suitable as a topiary.
Start sterilizing your pruning shears with one part of bleach in 9 parts of water. Keep this handy because you will want to re-sterilize between cuts if possible.
While your tree is still largely at the end of winter, you should do your first shaping and pruning. When it produces new leaf growth, you can occasionally cut off extra-long stems, but it's best to let it run through spring and then fine-tune it towards the end of summer as it slows down.
Since it can soar from the ground, it should also be shortened to an appropriate height in late winter. Plants grown in containers should not be kept taller than 6 feet to ensure they can be brought home in the cold months.
Pinch branches or suction cups on the tree when they appear. This prevents a few odd branches from sticking out of the base.
Propagation
Propagation is generally through seeds, but the seed takes an incredibly long time to get going. It is not unknown that a seed takes more than six months to germinate, and that is if it germinates at all. This species is not known for good germination rates.
For this species, it is best to buy seedlings and plant them. This saves having to wait for the seed. However, there is another alternative: softwood cuttings.
Although there is no guarantee that they will root, young and pliable green cuttings can be removed from a healthy branch tip. Select pieces at least 6 to 8 inches in length and remove all of the leaves except the top two from your cut. Dip the end in water, then in the root hormone and plant it in a prepared pot that contains equal parts of vermiculite, potting soil, and sand.
Place a plastic bag or bag over the cut. When using a pouch, use sticks or stakes to prevent the pouch from resting on the cut. This helps to keep the moisture around the plant. Place it on a seedling heating mat set to 70 degrees to ensure even and even warmth and bright indirect lighting.
Check your seedlings once a month to see if they have roots. Top growth is not really an indicator that they have taken root. Instead, gently pull the top of the cut to see if there is any resistance. If so, it starts to develop roots.
Harvest and store
After harvesting, the sweet bay can be dried to be kept for later use. Source: Starr
But what about the harvest? Let's talk about methods of collecting and storing your sweet bay leaves.
harvest
While you can harvest earlier, it's best to wait until your bay is 2 years old before doing your first harvest. This ensures that it has enough time to grow and develop before you start raiding its foliage.
Select individual leaves by hand or cut small tufts with sterile scissors. It is best to choose older ones because they have a better taste than the young leaf.
storage
Store the fresh bay wrapped in paper towels in a zipped plastic bag in the refrigerator. It should be usable for up to two weeks.
Allow your leaves to air dry in a cool, dry place, or use a dehydrator at the lowest heat setting.
Troubleshooting
Unripe bay berries turn black when they ripen. Source: equipaje
No matter how hard we try, as gardeners we always run into some problems. Here's how to deal with what's in your way.
Growing problems
Over-watering can easily cause root rot. The leaves can turn yellow or brown, the tips can become crispy and it can stop producing new leaves. Since there is no good treatment for root rot, it is important to avoid it completely. Make sure your floor drains excess moisture well. If you're not sure if it's a good time to water, choose less moisture than more. It works fine in somewhat dry conditions.
Pests
The worst pest for your tree is that Bay Sucker. Sometimes called jumping plant liceThese light brown, tiny sap suckers destroy your foliage and can actually kill your tree successfully. Leaf tissues first become thicker and yellow, but then turn brown and fall off. Cut off infected branches or leaf material and destroy them (do not compost them). Use insecticidal soap to treat the undersides of the leaves and prevent further spread.
Many forms of Scale insects are common on laurel. Spray horticultural oil to prevent penetration. An application in February is ideal to prevent early spring dandruff. Spray again in late autumn and just before Christmas. Use neem oil to treat breakouts between horticultural oil applications.
Aphids are also present and they can spread downy mildew, a common disease. These can be wiped off with horticultural oil, neem oil or insecticidal soap.
A selection of brown beetle, including the Asian garden beetle, live off branches and gnaw holes in leaf material. These half an inch long beetles can quickly brown the leaves and defoliate the branches. These can be difficult to control without chemical insecticides, but a BT strain known as Bacillus thurigiensis galleriae works surprisingly well to eliminate both the beetles and their maggots.
Diseases
Anthracnose causes black leaf spots and curled, distorted leaves. This plant disease can be treated with botanical fungicides such as neem oil.
Wrong mildew, sometimes referred to as sooty mold, causes a gray fungus to spread across the surface of the leaves. It resembles a mold or mildew. Treat this with neem oil or a copper-based fungicide.
mildew can also occur. This closely resembles the appearance of downy mildew, but is lighter and looks dusty. Neem oil is extremely effective against mildew.
In the end, Phytophthora root rot are common in bays where there is not enough drainage. While there is no easy treatment for them, prevention is as easy as not watering. In addition, applying Trichoderma harzianum to your floor can help prevent rotting. These soil-dwelling fungi penetrate the root system and protect them from other soil-based organisms. This interdependency helps both your bay and mushrooms thrive, as your bay can absorb more nutrients from the surrounding soil.
frequently asked Questions
Laurus nobilis prefers a warm Mediterranean climate. Source: Starr
Q: How tall do these trees grow?
A: Bay bay trees can reach 20 to 30 feet in height, but are often kept in containers at around 6 feet.
Q: Is laurel identical to a bay leaf?
A: Yes, bay leaf and bay leaf are the same. The bay leaves come from the bay tree.
Q: Are bay berries toxic to dogs?
A: Yes, the berries can be poisonous to dogs, horses and cats. If consumed in large quantities, they can cause serious harm to your pets. The leaves are also not safe when consumed in large quantities.
Q: Can you use bay leaves straight from the tree?
A: Yes, the fresh bay leaves can be picked, washed and used for culinary purposes.
The green thumbs behind this article:
Lorin Nielsen
Lifetime gardener
