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I've got a bay tree which I don't like the shape of. Its got a weird V shape thing going on, that reminds me of the sycamore tree at the top of the garden! Can I cut it back hard so it bushes up more? Or would it make it worse 
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I treat mine like a sawmill specimen. They are very resilient. I'd do it bit by bit but if you do overdo it then don't worry. It will have a 99.9% chance of eventual recovery.Last edited by sarraceniac; 08-10-2009, 06:01 PM.Why didn't Noah just swat those 2 greenflies?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
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>If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
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i had one in my london garden and it was growing all over the show, whereas i wanted it to look like a little round lollipop - OH took the shears to it...it looked awful for ages but now (garden is now my daughter's) is beginning to look like a slightly flattened lollipop so from my very limited experience i would agree with sarraceniac and cut it back as much as is required ...............Comment
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Very timely thread this, as I accquired a 4ft high bay tree / bush today for nought
Rat
British by birth
Scottish by the Grace of God
http://scotsburngarden.blogspot.com/
http://davethegardener.blogspot.com/Comment
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Yup- go for it- just make sure there are enough 'growing points' for it the thicken out! ( ie where smaller branches grow out from thicker ones!)
Remember to dry those leaves you cut off
"Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple
Location....Normandy FranceComment
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Can I Hard Prune my Bay? YES YOU CAN.....!
Our Lollipop BayTree got really sick one year, and I cut it back severely.
Thankfully, it recovered beautifully.Comment
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We had a small one in a pot at out last house which got covered in scale insect/sooty mould. I cut it back so it was just the main stem and it grew back the next year fine with no sign of scale insect.Comment
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Dont forget to dry the leaves you cut off to use over winter in cooking :-)
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ves_39229.htmlComment
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It will get the chop later! Could I take cuttings from it, or is it the wrong time of year?
I've got loads of old coal ash dumped in my garden soil, so not sure if they would be safe to use.Originally posted by Jillyreeves View PostComment
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You could try some hardwood cuttings as now is the time they are usually taken. You have nothing to loose if you are going to prune it anyway. I have a large bay in a pot which suffered from sooty mould and I cured it by moving the bay to a place where it got better air circulation.
IanComment
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I recently cut a multistemmed tree back to ground level with a chainsaw. It is already sprouting and will soon be back up to 4 meters high. The wood is excellent for open fires giving off a lovely sweet bay scented smoke.Comment
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