Kitchen Garden Forum

Can you give me some advice on the best time to relocate a 10 yr old well established bay tree. The garden is being re landscaped and the tree now needs to move into the herb area as it's current location will be turfed.

Can you let me know the best time fo year to move it and any best suggestions....dig a huge hole aorund it so as not to discturb any roots? OR would I be best moving it into a giant pot in case i need to move it again in the future?

It is 5 1/2 ft high and I think 3ft + diameter.

Many thanks

There have been many visitors to this question....maybe hoping for the answer.

Anyway I did email Jekka McVicar and this is what she kndly came back and said:

Jekka suggests that it’s not replanted until late spring after the frosts have passed, as newly planted bay is more vulnerable to frost damage.
The roots will spread as wide as the plant is tall, so yes a huge hole will be necessary. Once replanted, give it a good cut back to a manageable size.

Hope that helps all you ppotential bay tree movers!

Dear Snip, so sorry you didn't receive an answer from any of us.

But a very big thank-you, for not only not feeling let down, but also providing us all with some very useful infomation, most kind indeed.

Don't worry I am tough as an unpicked turnip!

I could do with some help re the spuds though, I left a post on the thread of autumn planting spuds re my Carlingford. I have gone ahead and planted them but don't want to kill all of them (from frost) or get one lot of blight and lose the lot.

Xx