Bays are wonderful trees because of their resiliency and their usefulness in cooking. They’re also very popular due to how well they take to unusual pruning. With the right amount of trimming and training, it’s possible to shape your own bay tree topiaries. Keep reading to learn more about bay tree topiary pruning and bay tree topiary ideas.
How to Make a Bay Topiary
The key to bay tree topiary pruning, or any topiary pruning in general, is multiple cuttings in a single growing season. A single heavy pruning should be done in the spring to achieve the desired shape. The tree will continue to grow throughout the growing season, and it can be trimmed back regularly to keep its shape. There are a few very popular bay tree topiaries. The most common bay topiary shape is the “standard” or lollipop shape – a bare trunk with all the foliage collected in a ball at the top. This can be achieved by encouraging a single leader trunk and allowing it to grow to your desired height. Once you’ve done this, cut away all the lower branches of the tree, leaving only the top one third or so remaining. Over the next several years, clip the tops of the branches and encourage spreading ones. Eventually this will even out into an attractive ball shape. If you have a young bay tree with several shoots, you can achieve a very cool braided trunk look. Simply dig up your tree and separate the shoots, making sure each has a portion of the root ball attached. Replant your shoots as close together as possible, removing the lower two thirds of branches. In the early spring, when the shoots are at their most pliable, carefully braid them together and tie them in place. After a few years, they will take to the shape naturally. Trim the foliage as you like – it looks best with the standard lollipop ball on top.
-
Proven Health Benefits Of Gardening – Why It’s Good To Get Your Hands DirtyThere are so many health benefits of gardening for every age and ability level, it may hold the key to many of the world’s problems. Learn about the ways gardening can improve your life.
-
Get Gardening For Better Sleep: Why Gardens And Plants Can Give You Happier BedtimesWe all know gardening is intrinsically linked to a ‘feel good’ factor – have you ever wondered why it helps with rest? Here’s the thinking behind gardening for better sleep…
-
Bay Tree Propagation – Tips For Rooting Bay Tree CuttingsOne mature bay tree will keep even the most dedicated cook in pungent bay leaves for a lifetime. But if you need more, it is not difficult to start growing a bay tree from cuttings. For more information on propagating cuttings from a bay tree, click here.
-
Bay Tree Leaf Drop: Why Is My Bay Losing LeavesBay laurel is one of the most impressive looking among the culinary herbs. Although it?s pretty sturdy, once in a while you may run into trouble with dropping bay leaves. Click this article to learn about bay trees dropping leaves.
-
How To Treat Bay Pests : Dealing With Pests On A Bay TreeMost bay tree insects are foliar feasters, but there are a few boring insects that can cause damage to the trunk and twigs. Click on the following article to find out how to treat bay pests in a safe and non-toxic manner.
-
Diseases Of Bay Trees : How To Treat A Sick Bay TreeBay is an easy-to-grow plant but is susceptible to a few diseases, many of which create problems on foliage, the part used in cooking. Preventing these diseases can help protect both the plant and your secret recipe ingredient. Learn more in this article.
-
Bay Tree Transplant Tips: How To Transplant Bay TreesBay laurel trees are small evergreens with dense, aromatic foliage. The leaves are often used for flavoring in cooking. If your bay tree has outgrown its planting site, you may be wondering how to transplant bay trees. Click here for information that can help.
-
How To Prune A Bay Tree – Tips For Cutting Back Bay TreesBay tree pruning is not strictly necessary for the health of the tree, but the trees readily accept light or severe pruning, including pruning bay trees into topiary shapes. Learn how to prune bay laurel trees in this article.
-
When To Sow Bay Seeds: Tips For Growing Bay Tree SeedsUsually, sweet bay is purchased as a seedling from a nursery, but growing bay tree seeds is also possible, provided the grower has some patience since bay seed germination is a slow process. Interested in planting bay seeds? Find out when to sow bay seeds in this article.
-
Harvesting Bay Leaves: When To Pick Bay Leaves For CookingAlmost everyone should be picking their own bay leaves; of course, you need to know when to pick them. Is there a specific bay leaf harvest time of year? The following article contains information on harvesting bay leaves.
