Bay Trees - How do I protect them from frost?

[Braveheart]

Hi

I have two 6ft bay trees which are situated in a slightly sheltered position
immediately outside my front door. Last winter I put them in the garage
(which is very dark and cold) to protect them from the frost and they nearly
died, I lost about 75% of the leaves, in the spring I brought them out and
repotted them in very large stone pots and they're now extremely healthy
again. I can't carry them into the garage (even if I wanted to) due to the
weight of the stone pots so does anyone know the best way to protect them
from the frost? Somebody told me that I could put a blanket around their
base and protect the leaves with a poly bag? is this is correct? or is
there a better way?

regards
William Graham
Scotland

[Judith Lea]

In article <71pt25$430$1...@plug.news.pipex.net>, Braveheart
<Brave...@dial.pipex.com> writes

>I have two 6ft bay trees which are situated in a slightly sheltered position
>immediately outside my front door. Last winter I put them in the garage
>(which is very dark and cold) to protect them from the frost and they nearly
>died, I lost about 75% of the leaves, in the spring I brought them out and
>repotted them in very large stone pots and they're now extremely healthy
>again. I can't carry them into the garage (even if I wanted to) due to the
>weight of the stone pots so does anyone know the best way to protect them
>from the frost?

If your bay is Laurus Nobilis which is the sweet bay you really should
not have a problem with them outside during the winter. They do take a
bit of a battering, but should recover in Spring.

In order to protect them as much as possible, ensure that the pot is not
standing on the ground. They may be heavy but tilt them sideways, at an
angle so that you are supporting the upper half of the tree and most of
the weight is still on the floor, and roll them onto a piece of timber
which will stop the pot from freezing on the ground and cracking.

Buy a roll of bubble wrap, it comes in different thicknesses, buy the
thickest, it will act as double glazing. Hang it from your wall, use
nails you can always take them out later if they are unsightly, and make
a lean to. This way, rain and wind cannot drive in, secure the bubble
wrap under the timber or staple it to it. This way it will only suffer
from cold rather than wind and rain damage which usually is the culprit
for plants that don't survive. It almost certainly will survive a cold
winter and any small damage caused by extreme conditions will be
compensated for with new shoots in Spring.

Why not start a few new ones by heel cuttings under glass. It is still
not too late. Late Summer is the ideal but you should still have some
success.

--
Judith Lea

[Braveheart]

Thanks to all who replied. I've purchased some bubblewrap and will go about
the job at the weekend.

Thanks again

BB

Braveheart wrote in message <71pt25$430$1...@plug.news.pipex.net>...
>Hi

>
>I have two 6ft bay trees which are situated in a slightly sheltered
position
>immediately outside my front door. Last winter I put them in the garage
>(which is very dark and cold) to protect them from the frost and they
nearly
>died, I lost about 75% of the leaves, in the spring I brought them out and
>repotted them in very large stone pots and they're now extremely healthy
>again. I can't carry them into the garage (even if I wanted to) due to the
>weight of the stone pots so does anyone know the best way to protect them