Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Please can anyone tell me if one has to have permission to reduce the height of Bay Trees in the garden. We intend lowering the height to a reasonable hedge. Thanks in advance.

Suggest you maybe contact a licenced tree surgeon/gardener. Hatib at Best Gardener is very good. His details are on here somewhere. Just search.

I don't know where you are, but I'm in Alsancak, and they grow like weeds around here.. I have never even considered the necessity of getting permission to hack 'em back
I suppose that I can now expect a visit from the bay tree police...

That'll teach you to go public Keith. BTW what sort of growing conditions do they like, will any old thing do? I know what the books say, but they can be wrong!!

I've never done anything at all to encourage them - it seems as though stopping 'em growing would be the trick!

I just stuck one in a large tube with ordinary soil and a bit of sheep manure and placed by the kitchen door for covenience. It is still going strong after several years but cant take over. Water regularly ,give it a feed once or twice a year, and trim it slightly if it grows uneven or I just want to leaves for cooking!

The gardener amuses himself by pruning them into rectangles or whatever, but if we're having a BBQ, I hack a few branches off, and stick 'em on the coals, once the flames have died down a bit, to flavour the food

Actually, I do the same with Oregano, Sage, Rosemary, lemongrass, and Garlic Chives, which all seem to grow with absolutely no encouragement!

If you pass anyone in the street who smells a trifle weird, you'll have a fair idea where they've been for their tea!

Keithcaley wrote:I don't know where you are, but I'm in Alsancak, and they grow like weeds around here.. I have never even considered the necessity of getting permission to hack 'em back
I suppose that I can now expect a visit from the bay tree police...

Keith - that'll be 'Bay Watch'....

I thought that I'd leave that one for you, Groucho - and you didn't disappoint!

Enjoyed the banter following my original posting, but pleased to report that none of our trees are on the protected list, so hopefully, some will become a hedge, and others may disappear, and Keith can rest in peace.

I wouldn't rest on your laurels!

Boom! Boom!

Just baying at the moon !

"Round the Bay'
Back in time for Tea"

sounds as if we are all "bound for botanic (Sorry Botany) Bay!

Starting to scrape the bayrrel now

..."bound for botanic (Sorry Botany) Bay!....

Naah; too far - Bayroot, Lebanon's quite close.....

frontalman wrote:I wouldn't rest on your laurels!

No need: bay is a Hardy plant

Hi everyone , I didn't know that 'they grow like weeds!' So have always bought bay leaves here for years,!! Has anyone got one I could have? May live to regret it having read these posts . I'm in Karsiyaka.

Seriously though, if they grow like weeds, would a decent sized cutting from someones tree take if stuck in a large pot as per R.Robin?

You need a decent green cutting & include a 'heel' from the stem of the parent plant, a little rooting compound might help things along.

Remove all but four leaves from the cutting, water it and cover with a plastic plastic bag to maintain humidity.

They're a bit slow to start throwing out new roots, so be patient.

Once they are established, then they will usually do well.

Or do as RR did, and hope for the best

Thanks guys. I know how to take cuttings but I first have to find one to take it from

So people is there lovely Karsiyaka person with a Bay Tree so that I can get a cutting? Or does anyone know where there is one growing in the neighbourhood?

I've got lots of shoots on a bay tree, and you're welcome to them all, but I'm in Lapta, not Karsiyaka. I'm just up from the Beledir's offices, next to the old cinema, and will be home tomorrow (Saturday) aternoon.

Gilly, not sure how to send answer --never been successful yet, but phone me after 1.00 pm 05428859087