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General Advice about Bay trees
Bay is an evergreen shrub, or small tree, 10-50 ft in
height; it has glossy dark aromatic leaves with small clusters of cream
flowers from tight buds that open in spring, followed by purple-black
berries. Propagate by cuttings in summer, plant in fertile well-drained
moist soil in a sunny position. In summer the foliage will respond to an
occasional spraying in dry weather.
Whilst often
grown as ornamental shrubs in containers, Bay Trees can get to quite large
proportions if planted out in the garden, with quite a wide spread. However,
if too unruly, they can be cut back quite hard in the spring or early
summer.
It can be plagued with scale insect; small brown crustaceans normally found
along the leaf veins. This pest usually leaves a sooty mould deposit on the
bay leaves.
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Medicinal
Bay is not widely used in modern herbal medicine, but
has been used for various aliments; to relieve muscle pain and stomach
disorders, and also used as an insect repellent, and to sooth skin rashes and
earache. Place a few bay leaves in a warm bath to ease aching limbs. Seek
advice.
Culinary
Add Bay to casseroles, soups and stews. Always include
a Bay leaf in a bouquet garni, as bay is a first rate herb. Bay is popular in
sweet sauces and use as a garnish for citrus sorbets. A fresh leaf placed in a
glass of milk an hour before drinking or in a milk pudding before cooking will
improve the flavour. When poaching salmon, placing a bay leaf in the water will
give a distinctive flavour. For advice on recipes
see this.
Pruning Bay Leaf Trees
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