Should I put fleece round my bay trees?

[TuttiFrutti]

I was given 2 bay trees for my birthday this summer. They look lovely in pots by my front door, but will they last through the winter?

Someone told me that I should put fleece round them to protect them from frost. Is this right, and how do I do it? Is it the whole tree which needs covering, or just the leaves?

[kd73]

We always wrap our patio tubs in bubble wrap to keep them warm and protected from the frost. Not sure why fleece would work though! Doesn't the material gets cold and wet which defeats the object????

[TuttiFrutti]

Hmmm yes, it must do mustn't it? I can't wrap a whole bay tree in bubble wrap though! What to do???

[Othersideofthechannel]

Is it because they are in pots that they need protecting?
I have a bay tree in a herb bed and it has survived several snowy winters.

[cremolafoamingatthemouth]

i have 10 pots of continental geraniums andwas wondering the same thing TF.My mum says to keep them in a green house over the winter or a porch if it has light.It has got cold for the first time here today.

[TuttiFrutti]

Now geraniums I do know about. I'm assuming you mean pelargoniums, ie the bright red/white/pink types you see in Spanish cafes a lot, not the small ground cover type.

Ideally you need to bring them indoors. If you live in the south-east they might survive the winter outdoors, but don't count on it. When I lived in London, the same geranium plants survived on my balcony for 5 years, but now we live outside London (although in south-east) they don't. You can take cuttings in the autumn, so if the plant dies at least you can grow another one. I always throw them on the compost heap in November, I'm ashamed to admit, to make way for my tulip bulbs, and buy new geraniums in May/June when the tulips are over.

[hana]

we have a couple of bay trees in pots and have never covered them - they are about 5 years old - they have wintered well over the years! but we're in london so not a lot of snow or extreme cold

[PirateoftheScarybeing]

hmm, i have a bay tree in a pot thats looking a bit sad today. We had lots of rain over the weekend and i was wondering if it has got water logged, or is it meant to look less happy now winter is coming.

I am thinkingit should really go in the ground, but I cannot dig a hole here, its really stony soil, full of builders rubble as its a new build.