Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Bay laurel help

CrankyYankeeCrankyYankee Posts: 504
in Problem solving
I'm hoping for some pruning advice for my little bay laurel.  It appears I have aphids or psyllids on it; I didn't realize how bad it was until recently.  My goal was to let this grow and prune it into a lollipop style, so can I start that now?  I wasn't sure if I needed to let it mature as it was only about 4 inches tall when I purchased it. 
I'm thinking I should take the lower branches here

And strip the leaves to one of these levels

then treat the remaining leaves with neem oil.  Having never grown bay laurel, I'm not sure if that's a sound plan or not.  And should I repot it in fresh soil?  Any advice is greatly appreciated.
New England, USA
Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
«1

Posts

  • bumnehabit70102bumnehabit70102 Posts: 1
    The best time to do it is in late spring or summer, avoiding frost periods. Because the tree is young and small, you should prune lightly and gradually to avoid stressing the tree and encourage new growth.
    suika game
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Remove the lower branches and let the main stem grow upwards. 

    Don’t remove leaves from the main stem but if it grows shoots then rub them out while they’re still little more than buds. 

    😊 


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





  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited 11 March
    I think take out soil level shoots leaving only the main stem as in your first image with the four yellow markers.

    But it looks quite small and young so I would not remove lower leaves on  the stem for now.

    Also be brave and just rub off those aphids, it is very satisfying. Use a thin glove if you are squeamish.

    Is that (unless it is water shining) on the lower right side I can see the shiney sticky honeydew mess from the aphids, little boogers.
    I would rub /squish those aphids from the undersides and gently wipe with a damp tissue.

    Is that snow outside? !
    Are you keeping your little Bay in a sheltered spot or inside hence the aphids?

    I would also carefully tip it out of the pot and see if the roots fill it yet. Or check underneath first and see if they are coming out of the bottom of the pot.
    If it looks like there are then tip it out to check.
    Don't pot it on too soon. 

    Good luck too, a very slow but satisfying project.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    What compost is it growing in?  It should be OK to repot if you want.  Remember, leaves = chlorophyll = energy = growth; don't remove too many leaves too soon.  Have a plan for its eventual size and shape, and stick to it.

    I have many like yours on the go, in the open garden and in pots.  Pigeons drop the seeds from a female bay tree next door.  Seedlings are weeds.  I grow mopheads, pillars and balls,
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    @Dovefromabove
    Sorry to repeat what you said...I swear your post was not there when I posted.... I think I must be sloooowwww.....
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    @Rubytoo 😉 👍 

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





  • CrankyYankeeCrankyYankee Posts: 504
    Well, this is what I get for being impatient.  :(  I cut the lower branches, wiped all the aphids off (twice for good measure, stem and leaves), checked back here and there weren't any replies yet late yesterday, so I went ahead and snipped a bunch of leaves off.  I've probably doomed the poor little thing.

    Rubytoo said:

    Is that snow outside? !

    Yes, it's still winter! ;)  This little one is inside under a grow light.


    New England, USA
    Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Don't worry, it will be OK without any old leaves, as long as you kept the growing point -  it will just grow a bit slower. 

    Give it a support stick to ensure it continues straight upwards until your chosen height.

    Thank you for giving your location and soil type, although "metacomet" will need looking up.  Many from non-UK keep us guessing.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • CrankyYankeeCrankyYankee Posts: 504
    bédé said:
    Don't worry, it will be OK without any old leaves, as long as you kept the growing point -  it will just grow a bit slower. 

    Give it a support stick to ensure it continues straight upwards until your chosen height.

    Thank you for giving your location and soil type, although "metacomet" will need looking up.  Many from non-UK keep us guessing.

    Good to know, thank you!

    The soil types come from the US Geological Society soil maps - we were required to find out what our soils were as part of an educational class I took on farming.  Basically my soil is terrible.
    Here are some links if you'd like to view the descriptions, hopefully they work:
    New England, USA
    Metacomet soil with hints of Woodbridge and Pillsbury
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited 12 March
    I noted you were USA sometime ago.
    (Had a dear friend in Mansfield Ohio, and used to enjoy chatting and seeing her photos of her "Yard"...  huge woodland area.... in the winter.
    You all have so much snow!

    Dove and a few others noted yesterday there were glitches on the forum.
    Must have been a time warp as well as the usual differences from you to us. ;)

    Anyway, as bede said it will be fine. It will grow more they do grow with quite a bit of vigour , and will always put on new ones.

    Metacomet, 
    https://soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/M/METACOMET.html
Sign In or Register to comment.