[ecky]

Can you take cuttings from a bay leaf tree?
If so when is the best time?
Can a bay leaf be kept to a small size? Iv'e seen huge trees and don't want some thing to big on the plot.

[JayG]

Propagating from cuttings is apparently not that easy, although the one time I tried it was successful (beginner's luck!)

A decent article HERE about propagation and pruning which should help. 

[SG6]

Think the best way to get another is to layer it.

Simply bend a suitably low branch so it contacts the ground and pin it down. Cover the bit in contact with soil to keep it moist and it probably helps roots to form on the overall section of the branch selected.

Some nick the bark and and a rooting compound although I believe they root OK without.

Idea being the branch is fed by the tree while it developes roots.

[Swing Swang]

Agree - layering works well, v diff from cuttings.

[savbo]

I struck several cuttings from our bay and they all took...

[peapod]

I struck several cuttings from our bay and they all took...

I darent check mine 

[sion01]

You can restrict bay to a size which is managable.I would let it establish for a few years before pruning hard but I don't think a light pruning would affect it at all.
I have been able to make my bay into a standard.I just let it grow as it wanted for 3 years .Select a nice stem from the middle.Hack all the others off(well ok maybe not hack,saw carefully) as close to the ground as possible.Then trim the top to a nice ball.
I don't know the prefered time for pruning them but im sure someone does

[realfood]

My bay in a pot produces new plants from the roots, which I just detach from the main plant and pot them up.

[ecky]

Cheers everyone. The only bay tree I have access to is my mothers. It is about 30 yrs old, about 20 ft high, and I don't have to duck my head when I walk under it so layering is out. Will just have trust to luck and go for cutting. I like the idea of a standard bush. Bet it looks neat.

[Trikidiki]

I've had no trouble taking cuttings from Bay. This is probably the best time of year to do it.

If you want to make a standard trim of any side shoots from the stem as it grows but leave the leaves on the main stem or it won't thicken up very well.

I have two which are now about 4-5ft tall. The tops were a bit thin so I bit the bullet last year and trimmed hacked of the branches to about 3" long with no leaves on at all.

I thought I'd killed them but they are now growing back, nice and bushy.

Mine send up suckers occassionally which seem to root really well.

[ecky]

Thanks trikidiki  Every couple months or so I visit my mother, 2hrs drive, and take a cut or two for cooking. went at the weekend so will try now for rooting.