Bay trees

Tracysshed

Could anyone give me advice of what to do.in April 2011 I took cuttings of my large bay trees and potted them up for a year then last year I planted them in the ground in march 2012 now tis year I've noticed that they haven't really grown at all they are still alive but I wanted them to grow a little faster shell I leave them and hope they grow a bit this year or shell I replace them for laurel. I took the cuttings to save money and to block main road.butlooks like I will have to buy laurel or something faster.

Dovefromabove

I find bay cuttings quite difficult to root successfully, so you've done really well so far!

I think they've been busy growing a good root system first before they can start growing above ground, and they will grow faster this year.

 If you can't wait to block out the road then you could replace them, but it seems a shame now that you've come so far - it will be great to look back when they're a lovely thick hedge and remember taking the cuttings.  

Tracysshed

I think I'm just being a bit impatient dovefromabove I look at them everyday through my living room window and they just aren't moving well I will wait and hope to see them grow this year thank you for your help.

Dovefromabove

Take a photo of them this year and another next year from exactly the same spot, then you'll see how much they've grown!  But bless 'em, they really do need time to grow some good roots before they can thrust those branches up into the sky - after all, they didn't have any roots at all when they started, did they?

nutcutlet

I grew some on from suckers from my big bush. They were very slow for a couple of years but eventually got established. I think they're just slow starters

Tracysshed

I will take photos today good idea I would show you all but can't manage to work out how to send them on ipad to tricky

discodave

Seems to be the case with Bays, the first year they seem to get established then grow well after that. 

blossomcambridge

You're lucky to have bay trees, I keep loosing mine during the winter and now have to keep them in a pot and carry them into the greenhouse for protection when the weather gets cold.

flowering rose

I would not  encourage it to grow faster than it needs or it will go lanky and fail,your lucky to get this far they are not easy to grow.I have grown them before but you have to be patient

Joyce Goldenlily

Bay treers are very slow growers and they do not like growing in rich friable soil. Their favourite soil seems to be heavy clay although I have seen them growing on the Cornish cliffs, struggling it is true, very small and stumpy. The best I have ever seen were huge ones in Prospect Park  in Reading. No attention given to them in many years, on hard heavy sticky Thames Valley clay.

I am growing a sucker from my sister's tree but it is moving very very slowly.

nutcutlet

Blossom, maybe it's the roots that are suffering if they're in pots. My big bay started life in the ground in S. Cambs. Now doing well further north in the ground again