Kitchen Garden Forum

We have a HUGE bay tree in our garden, which is well sheltered and about 23 years old. We are planning to move in the Summer, and it would be great to take a cutting of it. We don't have time now to layer it, does anyone know if it's possible to take cuttings, and what is the best method of doing this???

Dear Mazmezroz,
Semi ripes at the end of July. Take them from as low down the tree as possible as this will give the beter rooting potential. Bits about 6" long set round the edge of a six inch pot which has been filled with a mix of 2/3 peat based compost and 1/3 sand. Trim the cuttings just below the leaf nodes and do not leave more than 3-4 leaves on the cutting. Put the cuttings about 8-10 per pot; you may wish to use a hormone rooting compound. If you do get a fresh pot as it goes off rapidly. Water the cuttings with TAP water (not rain water as it contains fungal pathogens). Put the pot into a large plastic bag and tie the top. Place the whole lot into a shady corner of the garden and take with you when you move. The more cuttings you do the better chance you have of getting at least one to root. Don't leave the cuttings outside over winter, they are best in a cold frame or unheated glasshouse. When spring comes round tip them out and see if any have rooted. If they have pot up the rooted ones and put the rest back into the cutting soil mix and treat as from the beginning.
Regards Sally Wright.
Most shrubs will grow from cuttings done like this so you can 'take' your whole garden with you if the movers don't object.
Regards Sally wright.

Dear Sally
Fab!! Thanks for comprehensive advice!!!

Regards - Maz

Hi Maz,

if you dont mind a long term project, you can bring on some of the bays as either standards, half standards or balls over 3-5 years and them pot them on into nice pots to give as birthday or Christmas presents. Considering the cost of them to buy they would be appreciated by gardeners and cooks alike.

They just need appropriate pruning a couple of times a year and watering, so other than time, they are quite hassle free.

Just an idea mind.

More of the same - soft cuttings will develop into new trees at a pace. Unwanted plants make good pressies.

We got our bays from Kenchester GC, near Gloucester. I went snooping and found a pot with lots of rooted cuttings in it for the price of 1. Potted them up at home, some died but we still have plenty. One is growing a sideshoot complete with root.
A warning. They can be very prone to scale insect infection so keep inspecting them and remove by hand.
Allan

I've checkedup, The dogwood is noted host of the scale insects and almost certainly passed tghem to our bays.
Allan

I've propagated Bay from cuttings in the past but they are pretty slow growing. Some things root from big cuttings, say a 2' piece, taken in the normal way but possibly roughing up the bark a bit to generate roots from the damage. I haven't tried it with Bay, has anybody else?
You can steal a 2 year start this way and it sounds like you have plenty of material to play with so nothing lost.