Watering: Water regularly with well-drained soil during the growing season. Don't allow roots to stand in water. Less water is required in the winter months, but don't allow the tree to dry out. Head size: this indicates the width of the foliage head in cm. A 35-40cm standard bay, then, will have a smaller width of foliage than a 60-65cm standard bay. We advise that you withhold water for a couple of days in advance to allow the soil to dry out slightly. Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. compost or a liquid feed every two weeks from mid-spring to late summer Our range of ornamental bay trees have been carefully trained and pruned to grow in very specific shapes - designed to add sophisticated flair to your garden, porch or patio.

Conduct the hard pruning of your bay tree in the springtime. This is the best time to get the initial shaping in for the tree. Once the tree starts in the growing season you may need to get another lighter pruning done in the summer just to neaten up the shape. In the short term, underwatering will be much less harmful than overwatering, so always be modest with the watering can!It has romantic associations and is often given as a Wedding or Valentine’s gift. ‘To ensure love will last, the couple should break off a twig and break it in two, each keeping a half. Feeding: Mulch topsoil with organic fertiliser and add slow-release fertiliser to the compost during the growing season. Feeding is not needed throughout winter.

Evergreen English yew (Taxus baccata) is a native conifer that responds particularly well to clipping and training. Although it will reach up to 20 metres as a full-grown tree, it will grow happily in containers where you can restrict its size by annual pruning. Keep container-grown yews well-fed and watered to maintain their luxuriant feathery foliage. 15. OakAdd 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. Leaf spots - often caused by waterlogged roots, or wet weather conditions. Plants in containers are also very prone to this, usually indicating that the compost has become old and tired. Repot your plant in spring into fresh, well-drained compost.

A pot grown bay tree prefers a sunny, sheltered location in the garden. This ensures that the tree will get enough sun throughout the year but allows for it to be moved when winter comes around and the temperature starts dropping into the minus figures. In summer, your bay tree will be growing much more vigorously and pushing out lots of new growth. This means it may need a bit of light additional pruning to ensure it maintains a good shape. How to Prune a Bay Tree Shaped bay trees are very slow-growing, but over time they can reach a significant size — more than 10 metres in height and 5 metres in width. For those who prefer their tree to remain smaller, topiary bays are extremely popular. These are usually grown in containers, positioned around front doors to frame an entrance or on patios as an architectural statement. The most frequently found forms are lollipop-shaped ‘standard’ bays. Alternatively, there are pyramid-shaped trees, akin to a softer version of a Christmas tree.Standard size: this indicates the height to which the trunk has been cleared before the foliage head begins (based on bay tree guidelines). A half standard, then, will have less trunk height than a full standard. 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. Bay trees become hungry during their growing season and may need some slow-release fertiliser. Start adding slow-release fertiliser granules throughout spring or summer or by adding a layer of organic matter (mulch) to the topsoil. This will allow for the nutrients to penetrate the soil slowly for the tree to use. Avoid using any fast, liquid fertilisers on your bay tree.

As with standard bay trees, pyramid bay trees have been carefully trained for several years to ensure they have a pleasing pyramid shape. Creating an evenly balanced foliage form from top to bottom. Bays can be very expensive in garden centres, with similar products selling for over 50 poundseach, so this fantastic offer is unbelievable value! Pots made from porous materials such as terracotta and wood offer optimum growing conditions for trees and other permanent plants Bay trees are hardy down to around -5°C, however, as soon as temperatures drop close to 0°C we recommend moving your tree to somewhere more sheltered.

Best evergreen trees in pots

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 pots English holly is another option for a front door tree grown in a pot. The traditional lollipop shape looks handsome in suitably large containers beside a front porch or stationed in a courtyard. If you want to enjoy bright red winter berries as well as glossy green foliage, choose a female tree, or plant several trees to ensure pollination. Japanese holly is worth considering, too: it grows well in containers and clips easily to shape (it's often used as an alternative to Box as it’s resistant to blight). Best fruit trees in pots Refresh the compost in spring – either by repotting entirely or replacing the top few inches with fresh compost Pruning: Prune in spring and summer for shape. Conduct any hard pruning in spring with lighter pruning in summer. An ideal evergreen topiary tree that can be clipped into a wide variety of shapes. Shaped bay trees add structure and form. The classic use is as a pair positioned either side of a door, where they create an instant welcome. Here they will also offer a waft of the lovely bay aroma.