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Propagating Bay

herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
in Fruit & veg
I have a Bay tree which is about 15 years old and has been ravaged by storm, snow, hurricane and me. Originally it was the standard two plants twisted together and clipped to a ball but time and adversity have transformed it into a bush. 



I want to liberate it from its pot and replant in the herb area but would feel better if I had a couple of backup plants. It needs a good feed before I attempt to take cuttings again but after several years of trying I have no successful cuttings. Has anyone managed to get a Bay cutting to take? Any help or advice please?
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Never having taken bay cuttings before but I would think it would be hardwood cuttings you take. Ones about the thickness of a pencil about 12 inches long and popped into a trench to half their length in the autumn. Will take about a year to form  roots. May be quicker just to buy another one if your moved one hits the dust. 
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Bay can get enormous in the ground. They take a fair amount of keeping on top of.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Thank you both. It seems like bad news followed by bad news.......  The reason I want a cutting of this tree Hogweed is because it was a gift from my daughter, most of the plants in my garden are ancestrally linked to friends and family which makes my garden a wonderful place for me to view my plants and contemplate but not a very visually attractive garden for anyone else.

    Hey Ho, I guess I'll just trim it back again and put the pot in the middle of the herb area.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    ... it's a good idea to take cuttings, as it's precious to you, and you might one day lose the original plant. Bays can be hit hard by a bad winter.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Yes indeed Fire, I promise you I have tried for the last few years, softwood, hardwood, layering but so far no success. "Everyone" else in my garden obligingly renews for me - except my husband's smoke tree which even the RHS man said was extremely difficult.

    I am going to give it another go because I would be devastated if it finally succumbed to bad weather, maybe take cuttings every few months and cross my fingers.
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Sorry, I missed that line in your first post.

    This article suggests it quite hard to propagate. So it might not be your error.
    The key might be to try 20-30 cuttings and hope one or two will take.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    Thank you for that Fire, and over winter in the greenhouse! Didn't do that just had them covered in my 'nursery' just not sure my poor tree will offer up 20-30 nice side shoots and allow me to take enough leaves for cooking. But I'll give it a go - watch this space in 15 months  ;)
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I guess just do as many as is comfortable and keep doing it regularly until something good happens. As with much gardening, it seems.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited June 2018
    I've never managed to propagate bay but have grown it for donkeys years - but I haven't tried that hard.
    It's happier in the ground but you will need to prune it a few times a year.
    Mine is a huge ball with plaited stems/trunk but you can prune it to whatever shape you want within reason - it's not box! .
    It's a secateurs job I'm afraid.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • herbaceousherbaceous Posts: 2,318
    I have secateurs B3 and I'm not scared to use them! Mine was a twisted stem ball once upon a time but I love it just the same. I would love to plant it out, I hear what you and Fire say about it going mad, but the reason it has been in a pot all these years is so I can move it to a sheltered spot during the worst of the weather.

    If I had a potted backup that wouldn't be a problem, otherwise I just get mental pictures of Monty and his banana plant. I don't think I could shift that either
     
    "The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."  Sir Terry Pratchett
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