Last year I bought a small bay leaf shrub from a UK garden centre and have carefully looked after it. Now it's taller than I am! And it's growing upwards at an alarming rate.
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
I no longer have the botanical name of the shrub but vaguely remember it was a "laurel" of some kind. I feel sure the leaves must be edible, which is why I bought it in the first place, but have no wish to risk poisoning myself or anyone else.
Q1: Is there anything I should beware of?
It's growing skywards and I feel sure I ought to be pruning it to make it bushier.
Q2: What's the best way to prune it?
I expect I'll need to hack off a lot of it. At least a foot or more off several stems.
Q3: Assuming it's edible, what's the best way to dry the leaves? I have a dehydrator which will probably do the job.
I have a friend who's a keen cook and I'd like to give some of my home-grown bay leaves to him - but not if they might poison him!
It seems daft to keep buying dried bay leaves when I could have such a rich harvest of them from my own plant. I'd be glad of your advice.
Thanks in advance.