bay tree cuttings

General tips / questions on seeding & planting

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Diane
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Just taken a few bay tree cuttings...and wondered whether to put a plastic bag over them or nor. I've googled...and some say to cover and some say not.

Has anyone done this....and did you cover or not?

Advice appreciated, please.
'Preserve wildlife - pickle a rat'
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Motherwoman
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I've never taken bay cuttings, but I would say treat them as a ripe wood cutting and leave uncovered. I would only usually cover anything which is still quite soft to prevent it drying out quickly.

MW
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Geoff
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My propagator is stuffed full of cuttings at this time of year, including bay. This year I'm not using any heat (part of a mission to use a bit less electricity) though usually I use bottom heat. None of them are individually covered but I mist them several times a day and lightly shade them when it is very sunny.
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Diane
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Thank you.
'Preserve wildlife - pickle a rat'
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Johnboy
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For those who are not in a hurry Laurus Nobilis (Bay) wood is not fully hard until November and hardwood cuttings are taken November and December only.
If you do not have the gadgetry that some of our members seem to have then this is the perfect method.
You can actually place your cutting where you want it to grow and then utter a prayer!
Ideally cuttings should be 8"to 10" long and inserted into the soil 4" to 6"
carefully stripped of leaves to around 1" above the planting depth.
You can reduce the leaf size by cutting all but the top cluster of leaves in half but this is not essential. Rooting powder (hormone) can be used but is not essential.
Hormone Powder warning
This should not be used by any lasses if there is the slightest possibility that they may be pregnant.
JB.
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