1 Standard Bay Tree | Potted Patio Tree | Laurus nobilis | 75cm Tall | Plant for Front Door |

Product Information

Pruning a bay tree to maintain a good shape consists of removing any new shoots and inward-facing buds that are affecting the overall silhouette you are wanting to achieve.

Pruning the tree’s root system every so often is another effective way of controlling the size of mature trees If you live in a particularly cold area then we suggest moving the tree to an unheated greenhouse or conservatory to protect it from extreme temperatures and frost. Yellow leaves - older leaves will shed naturally in low numbers. Nutrient deficiency can be the problem in container-grown plants but is more commonly caused by waterlogged compost or cold weather damage. They will have two useful figures on their label: standard size (e.g., 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 4/4) and head size (e.g., 35-40cm, 60-65cm). Bay trees have had significance throughout history, particularly in Greek legend, where bay leaves were used to create wreaths given to honour heroes. In ancient Rome, Bay stems were woven into crowns for dignitaries, including the Emperor.

Best large trees in pots

In the short term, underwatering will be much less harmful than overwatering, so always be modest with the watering can! The preferred position for bay trees is in full sun, protected from winds and extreme cold snaps. They will, however, happily tolerate partial shade. Bay trees can produce tiny little yellow flowers. To produce any fruits, the female tree needs to be pollinated so if there is only one tree then it may never produce fruits. Provide frost protection in cold weather – use horticultural fleece to protect tender leaves, buds, and stems, and bubble wrap to insulate the pot (and the roots inside)

Shaped bay trees are most frequently grown in containers. They are often positioned as a duo to frame a door or create an artistic viewpoint on a patio. If you are growing your shaped bay in a container, select a large enough pot to allow for root growth. Add stones or broken pot pieces at the bottom for drainage, then add good quality multi-purpose compost. Carefully remove your shaped bay tree from its growing pot and position it in the container. Fill with compost so the soil in the container is at the same level asit was when it was growing in its pot. Water well. Pruning

Pots made from porous materials such as terracotta and wood offer optimum growing conditions for trees and other permanent plants

According to the proverb, ‘To be happy for a year, get married; to be happy for life, plant a garden'. A well-chosen tree makes the perfect finishing flourish, and by planting trees in a pot, it is perfectly possible for even a balcony-sized garden to enjoy its many benefits. Container-grown trees make an attractive focal point and add variety, height, colour and even fruit to the garden. For ‘Generation Rent’, a pot-grown tree has the added flexibility of being able to move with you. Best small trees for potsLovely in their own right, a tree that flowers is just the icing on the cake. There’s no need to miss out on the floral fireworks if you have a small garden – here are some of our favourite flowering trees that can be grown in pots. 11. Star Magnolia Bay trees are the classic evergreen trees for containers. Nothing looks smarter than a pair of standard bay trees on either side of a front door. Bays clip well and can be trained as topiary, so you could equally well have pyramids, cones or spirals beside your entrance. The aromatic leaves can be used in cooking, so a container-grown bay is much more than just an ornamental tree. 6. Holly

Feeding: Mulch topsoil with organic fertiliser and add slow-release fertiliser to the compost during the growing season. Feeding is not needed throughout winter.

Best flowering trees for pots

Add the head size to the stem size to get the overall height of the plant. If you are planting in a container, don’t forget to add that too, so a three-quarter standard Bay with a 50-55cm head planted in a 40cm pot will have a total height of around 180cm, or 6 feet.