Is Bay tender?

owd potter

Do you take Bay trees in to protect them?
I'm pretty sure that I left my 2 young potted trees out last year, and they were fine.
However, from RHS site apparently they are H4 so hardy down to -3 C, so that now has me wondering whether to bring them into shed or summat.

Fairygirl

They'd need some shelter in exposed sites, as cold winds aren't good for them, and certainly would need brought in here, but a shed is no good. They need light. 

Like many plants, they're tougher if in the ground, so pots would often need protection even if the main plant didn't. 

owd potter

Thanks @Fairygirl. 
First ground frost this morning and I thought about it as I passed them to defrost Mrs P's car.
Maybe I'll bring them into my potting shed then

Pete.8

We had our first light frost too this morning - very chilly out there today.
I have a few bays in the ground here for 20-odd years and they grow well.
The potting shed is probably your best bet if they're in pots.
They won't grow any more this year, so they should be fine in there.
Remember not to let the compost dry out completely though.

owd potter

thanks @Pete.8 the potting shed it is then, which has a polycarbonate roof 

Dovefromabove

I bubble wrap the pot but the bay tree is fine in a fairly sheltered corner of this garden ... it survived the Beast from the East without a problem.  Just make sure the pot is well-drained so the compost isn't waterlogged. 

bertrand-mabel

We have had a bay tree planted in the ground for some 10 years. We have never had any problems over winters but then it is in the ground.

A lovely tree which we prune back each year and use the leaves as needed.

Fairygirl

That's why it comes down to your local climate. They'd be annihilated here if left outside 

Dirty Harry

I'm in Tayside and have left mine outside, unprotected and exposed to wind, in pots for the past 3 winters.

owd potter

Well there's a fair cross section of experiences.
hmmm...
thanks all

Mander

I have a small bay shrub that's been in a pot for years with no problem. I usually tuck it into a more sheltered spot for the winter but so far, so good.