Tree Shape

Lauris Noblis – commonly known as Sweet Bay. Can anyone tell me how I can shape this type of tree?

I’d like to shape my small (approx. 60cm tall) Bay tree into a lollipop shape but no idea how to do it. Can i cut the braches off the bottom of the stem? How to I make the top bushier? please help. Thank you.

Hi Jane.

Yes you can remove the lower branches, in fact this is essential to growing the shape that you require. Remove the lower branches up to where the centre of your lollipop ball wants to be or just below.

What you’re aiming for is a clean stem with a network of branches at the height of your lollipop top above.

It’s not that easy to describe and you may be better off borrowing a book from you local library. Even if they have to order one in it would be loose change well spent. You could also buy a book from Amazon etc if you wanted to keep one for reference.

Anyway, you’ll want a clean stem with the lower branches cleanly clipped off and a network of branches above. Once the rough shape is there, just keep pinching out the tips to make it bulk up and over a period of time, trim to shape.

Feed it in the Spring with a general fertiliser (always follow the directions) and again later in the year. Bay are very tough, but if kept in a pot they can suffer through lack of moisture and food.

Here’s a general topiary link for you.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0503/topiary_training.asp

Hope that was of some help.

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