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Huge Bay Tree... how do i prune?

vickimoore24vickimoore24 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hello, please could anyone offer some advice. We have a huge bay tree in our garden. It is roughly 40 years old. The problem is its' become very big over the last 5 years, and even though we have tried to reduce it's size, we are still not quite happy with the shape of it. It's also not in an ideal spot, smack bang in the middle of where we plan to lay our patio. My partner says we can patio around it, but i'm wondering whether we should actually chop it down? Can we reduce it to a very small tree without it looking silly? birds to nest it in, and i'm really conscious if we chop it down we must plant another tree elsewhere in the garden? does anyone have any advice? 

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    To me it looks like you've got plenty of space to adjust your patio layout to keep the tree. Extend the patio into the lawn, keep the tree, and enjoy the shade and the way it screens the houses behind. I think you've already pushed it as far as you can go with pruning the canopy - that fat trunk will look silly with a tiny lollipop on top!
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I agree - it is already a rather odd shape and needs to be allowed to grow into a more natural form. If you cannot or will not adjust the patio, I'd get rid of the tree, but it is a fine tree. If you do decide to chop it down, you need a professional to do it.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2021
    I’d get rid of it. It’s never going to be a beauty and imposes itself on your whole garden. 

    Have the patio you want and replace the tree with a beautiful tree that will give you pleasure and be good for wildlife … but on your terms. 

    That is the skill of wildlife gardening … creating a garden that is good for wildlife while still meeting your practical and aesthetic needs. 

    Go for it and don’t feel guilty. 👍 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    To get a better perspective (I did this yesterday but forgot to touch the ‘post’ button)


    Rutland, England
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    It hasn't been pruned right as it's a bit lopsided and the top looked jagged. If it was me I would get a professional in and get them to prune/trim it to shape first and then decide if you like it. I think it has potential if the top is trimmed to a brolly shape.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Another possibility would be to do a loose sort of 'cloud prune' on it ... to lighten the canopy and give some interest to the shape ... but it'd take a really good eye to do it, and involve a fair bit of ongoing maintenance each year.  As I said, I'd bite the bullet and get rid of it.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I don’t like it at all, I’d have it right out and plant something more interesting that will keep a nice shape, you can get column trees that will form a nice shape on their own. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Don't feel that - just because it's been there a long time - it has to stay @vickimoore24 :)
    If you don't like it, and you want to put your patio there, then do that, and plant something you like, and that will suit your needs and the time you have for maintaining it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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