1. Forum News
    NEW SOFTWARE & SERVER IS COMING!
    Please click on the link below to get the most up to date information: CLICK HERE

Bay tree in a container

Discussion in 'Trees' started by hi2u_uk, Jun 24, 2023.

  1. hi2u_uk

    hi2u_uk Gardener

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    408
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +75
    I am thinking of buying a bay tree in a pot to keep in my garden long term
    Does anyone have any thoughts , tips, comments etc about Bay trees in containers.
    Any suggestions of a good retailer.
     
    hi2u_uk, Jun 24, 2023
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. Jocko

    Jocko Guided by my better half.

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2022
    Messages:
    2,417
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired engineer. Now Vice CEO of the garden.
    Location:
    Danderhall on southern edge of Edinburgh. Zone 8a.
    Ratings:
    +6,783
    Jocko, Jun 24, 2023
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. hi2u_uk

    hi2u_uk Gardener

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2022
    Messages:
    408
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +75
    Thanks but the website is suggesting i would need to take it out of the container /pot. I do not want to do that i want to keep it in the container
     
    hi2u_uk, Jun 24, 2023
    #3 Quote in Conversation
  4. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    34,580
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +55,536
    I'd want to go and choose at a good local nursery rather than online.

    That's where I got mine 30 years ago and it's been in a pot till this spring I planted it the soil. The pot stopped it getting out of hand but it never really looked happy. It needed pruning and compost changing to perk it up. Get as big a container as you can afford is my tip.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
      JWK, Jun 24, 2023
      #4 Quote in Conversation
    • Loofah

      Loofah Admin Staff Member

      Joined:
      Feb 20, 2008
      Messages:
      16,324
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      Guildford
      Ratings:
      +29,143
      If you don't mind growing it on then most DIY stores like homebase have them. I picked up a pot of bay for a fiver and got 16 plants from it
       
      • Like Like x 1
        Loofah, Jun 24, 2023
        #5 Quote in Conversation
      • pete

        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

        Joined:
        Jan 9, 2005
        Messages:
        57,994
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired
        Location:
        Mid Kent
        Ratings:
        +114,975
        I'm just confused what people find attractive about bay trees, but maybe I'm biased.:smile:
         
        • Agree Agree x 2
          pete, Jun 24, 2023
          #6 Quote in Conversation
        • Loofah

          Loofah Admin Staff Member

          Joined:
          Feb 20, 2008
          Messages:
          16,324
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Guildford
          Ratings:
          +29,143
          And use a soil based compost
           
          • Like Like x 1
            Loofah, Jun 24, 2023
            #7 Quote in Conversation
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

            Joined:
            Jun 3, 2008
            Messages:
            34,580
            Gender:
            Male
            Location:
            Surrey
            Ratings:
            +55,536
            We grow it purely for culinary purposes, so having a supply of fresh clean leaves is important. Can't say it is an ornamental plant in my eyes, it never flowered much in a pot.
             
            • Like Like x 1
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • Informative Informative x 1
              JWK, Jun 24, 2023
              #8 Quote in Conversation
            • Alisa

              Alisa Super Gardener

              Joined:
              Apr 21, 2014
              Messages:
              828
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Portsmouth, Hampshire
              Ratings:
              +2,440
              Yes, me too, soup without a bay leaf isn't soup. :)
               
              • Agree Agree x 1
              • Informative Informative x 1
                Alisa, Jun 24, 2023
                #9 Quote in Conversation
              • pete

                pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                Joined:
                Jan 9, 2005
                Messages:
                57,994
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Mid Kent
                Ratings:
                +114,975
                I dont think I've ever tasted a bay leaf.:scratch:
                 
                pete, Jun 24, 2023
                #10 Quote in Conversation
              • hi2u_uk

                hi2u_uk Gardener

                Joined:
                Apr 2, 2022
                Messages:
                408
                Gender:
                Male
                Ratings:
                +75
                Can anyone tell me if the bay trees smell nice in their gardens or attract any pests ?
                 
                hi2u_uk, Jun 25, 2023
                #11 Quote in Conversation
              • NigelJ

                NigelJ Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jan 31, 2012
                Messages:
                9,969
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Mad Scientist
                Location:
                Paignton Devon
                Ratings:
                +31,186
                I haven't noticed a strong smell, if rubbed against smells of bay. Pests the only one I've had has been scale insects.
                 
                NigelJ, Jun 25, 2023
                #12 Quote in Conversation
              • Michael Hewett

                Michael Hewett Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Mar 13, 2016
                Messages:
                6,454
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Hilly Carmarthenshire, South West Wales
                Ratings:
                +24,660
                The cut stems smell nice when pruned.
                I have two in tubs but they never look happy. The ones in the ground are growing much better.
                Another thing about them is they have suckers and you have to keep taking them out.
                 
                Michael Hewett, Jun 25, 2023
                #13 Quote in Conversation
              • Upsydaisy

                Upsydaisy Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Apr 26, 2017
                Messages:
                17,442
                Gender:
                Female
                Occupation:
                Living in hope of world wide peace.
                Location:
                Hampshire. Zone 8b
                Ratings:
                +54,393
                No fragrance here either.

                20230625_104449.jpg
                 
                Upsydaisy, Jun 25, 2023
                #14 Quote in Conversation
              Loading...
              Similar Threads - Bay tree container
              1. Lil_Dee

                New Bay tree roots sticking up out of the soil in it's container

                Lil_Dee, Jul 18, 2024, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                Replies:
                6
                Views:
                2,346
                Lil_Dee
                Jul 18, 2024
              2. Jblakes

                Bay tree help

                Jblakes, Aug 30, 2025, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
                Replies:
                11
                Views:
                598
                BB3
                Aug 31, 2025
              3. Spruce

                Bay tree sucker insect

                Spruce, Jun 1, 2025, in forum: Pests, Diseases and Cures
                Replies:
                1
                Views:
                583
                Pete8
                Jun 1, 2025
              4. Jblakes

                Bay tree in pots

                Jblakes, Apr 8, 2025, in forum: Container Gardening
                Replies:
                5
                Views:
                1,149
                pete
                Apr 10, 2025
              5. Bear1

                Bay tree planted in ground now no smell

                Bear1, Aug 27, 2024, in forum: Herbs and Wildflowers
                Replies:
                4
                Views:
                2,509
                Butterfly6
                Aug 30, 2024

              Share This Page

              1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                Accept Learn More...
                Dismiss Notice