How to Transplant a Bay Laurel Tree

06.06.2023 - 17:02 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren

Bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, is one of those garden marvels that serves more than one purpose.

Beyond adding evergreen ornamental interest to indoor and outdoor spaces with their glossy, deep green foliage, the leaves can bring an aromatic flavor to your cooking as well.

Even if you don’t like the taste of bay leaves, the camphor-like scent when you brush past this plant is something to behold.

If you are growing bay laurel, there may come a time when your tree is no longer thriving in its current location. Or it may have outgrown its current container, and could benefit from repotting.

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If you need to transplant your bay tree, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s what I’ll cover in this article:

Get your spade handy, and let’s get ready to dig in.

If your bay laurel is perfectly happy with the growing conditions in its current home, then why transplant it all? There are a variety of reasons, starting with the possibility that it may have outgrown its existing spot.

Whether you are growing it in a container or in the ground, you might reach a point where the plant needs more room to spread out.

How can you tell if your L. nobilis requires transplanting?

Determining the correct timing for transplanting a container-grown plant is easier to do than it may be for one that’s growing in the ground. You may see roots growing out of the drainage hole in the bottom of a pot, for example, or protruding from the surface of the soil.

Noticing a few yellowing leaves during the course of the growing season is normal, but if your tree is stressed, more leaves than usual may