Growing Bay Tree in Australia: The Complete Guide
Bay Tree is an easy perennial herb to grow, needing full–part sun with moderate watering.
If you're thinking about adding bay tree to the homestead, here's the real detail behind our printable guide — what it actually takes to grow it well in an Australian garden.
Prunes well into a hedge or pot specimen
Left alone, bay grows into a substantial tree, but it responds very well to clipping — many homesteads keep it as a large pot specimen or a trimmed hedge instead.
How to Plant Bay Tree
Method — plant from a nursery pot; slow-growing, so a larger starting size saves years. Soil — well-drained, moderately fertile. Timing — plant in spring or autumn.
Keeping It Growing Well
Keep these points in mind:
- Water regularly while young, then moderately once established.
- Prune or clip to control size and shape as desired.
- Feed lightly in spring.
- Protect from hard frost while young.
Common Problems
Worth paying attention to:
- Scale insects — small bumps on stems and leaves; treat with horticultural oil.
- Sooty mould — follows scale/sap-suckers; treat the pest.
- Slow growth — normal for this species; be patient.
- Leaf spot — humid conditions; improve airflow.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — usable year-round once established. Method — pick individual leaves as needed. Curing — dry leaves flat for a couple of weeks — dried bay is actually preferred in cooking. Storage — dried, airtight, a year or more.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main bay tree guide page.