Weather greenhouse and bay tree

[Jimmy]

A few years ago I lost a nice bay tree to the frost.

I got a replacement and it's quite big now in a large pot.

So every winter I move it to the green house.
The GH has a sump heater thingy which kicks in around 4 deg C.
But with the temperature outside down to -7 it struggles to cope and often the inside GH temp drops to around -2

Will the bay survive this ?

The only other option would be to tuck it up in bed with me !

Thanks
Jimmy

[nickdub]

I've have had a bay tree out in an unheated greenhouse for the last 10 years or so - I think it will be OK but it probably does depend a bit on the size - mine's about 10 foot tall, so I wouldn't fancy trying to move it.

[Jimmy]

At least in the GH there is no cutting wind!
Jimmy

[bramble]

My two bay trees stay outdoors every year.
They are out right now and look fine.

[Scarlet]

Are you sure you lost it? In prolonged cold, freezing temps their foliage can die back. They will reshoot from the base if pruned to the ground.
I wouldn't worry about it, prune when it gets warmer if you get some die back.

[Penellype]

My newly potted apricot tree (which arrived just in time for the cold weather) is in the garage, its pot is wrapped in bubble wrap and I have a fleece bag over the top of it. Hoping it will survive.

[BUFFS]

i have a bay tree, in the garden , for at least 12yrs, it had the -16deg for weeks in 2010, the -13deg for weeks in 2011, and it is about -4deg now with the wind chill its about -8deg but the tree will be fine, it is in the ground, which probably helps. I find that the more you cosset these plants the weaker they are, I have pineapple lilies that have been in the garden through all the above temps, and they are spreading happily around the garden, and we have monty donn telling us they are tender, as tough as a bears butt more like it..

[bikermike]

I'd not worry about it - our bay trees have been outside all winter with no signs of any problems. As long as it's sheltered, I doubt it will suffer.

[Jimmy]

The one that died was in a pot, I wonder if that's a factor.
Jimmy

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Nah!

My twisted "Bays" have been outside for years!

They do need potting on mind cause they are not as glossy leaved as should be!



But they are fine, still alive and cope with all weather conditions!

[Bren In Pots]

The one that died was in a pot, I wonder if that's a factor.
Jimmy

Jimmy i had a potted Bay die in the winter of 2010 since then I carry the new one into my GH when the weather gets bad, I don't want to be without Bay leaves ever again.

[Jimmy]

Yes I think mine died around 2010
Jimmy

[Bren In Pots]

Yes I think mine died around 2010
Jimmy

Mine spent that winter looking more like a snow man then it died I kept looking after it thinking the tree would pick up or through out a new shoot but it never did.

[Kirk]

The one that died was in a pot, I wonder if that's a factor.
Jimmy

Possibly. If the pot is not too large then the soil and any water in it can freeze and that will damage the roots. Equally the roots will freeze and get cellular damage. Dead roots equals dead tree.

My bay is outside in the ground and about 20 feet tall, and it is fine but not far below the surface the ground will not be frozen and so the roots survive. Equally the tree and leaves seem to handle the cold fairly well every year.

Might be worth wrapping a layer or two of bubble wrap around it and something on the surface to keep any heat/warmth in.

[Mark_Riga]

The main risk to yours would probably be if the rootball in the pot should freeze - which is why a lot of the ones outside survive. We have one that is growing through the canopy of a conifer of some sort which gives it some protection but when we had -17 C a few years ago it died right back but then sent up new shoots in the spring.