Hi I have a 15yr old Bay Tree in a raised garden bed (with other herbs)..for the past few years it has been sending out shoots at ground level and I have been cutting them at or just below soil level...This enhances the growth however, and the number of "suckers" has become a problem as they branch from the previous cut area... HELP!! what do I do to reduce /stop this occuring? Or is it time to remove the tree ( which looks fabulous as I have topiaried it) and replace with a lemon tree???
Suckers tend to be a problem with Bay trees. Every time you cut a sucker off or damage the root you will encourage more to grow.
The only answer is to use a herbicide to kill the suckers and not destroy the roots. Many people recommend the organic weedkiller Slasher Organic Weedkiller. It is glyphosate-free so less harmful to the environment . It is also non-selective so use with care and only spray the suckers. Less disturbance should mean less suckers, you will have to spray with Slasher again but hopefully less often.