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Shady plant that could compete with a Bay tree thats sending out sprouts and basal suckers

#1 · 11th April 2025, 2:35 pm

Hello!

In my city garden we have one of those shady beds, I've been looking at your excellent list of shady plants. However, there is a pretty big bay tree which is massively sprouting, from the research I've done there's not much to do except possibly removing the tree which we would rather not.

My question is, could anything compete with the sprouts? Or would any of the shady plants do well in pots? atm I've trimmed down the sprouts and put slabs over them to try to suppress them.

Are any of the shady plants poisonous? We have a 2 year old and a baby!

Many thanks!

#2 · 14th April 2025, 11:22 am

Quote from Lee Garden Ninja on 14th April 2025, 11:22 am
Hi @sophiepenneyhotmail-co-uk
Thanks for your question and kind words on my top shade loving plants guide here.
The issue with established bay trees sprouting or sending out runners around the base is that they need cutting off ideally. Yes, you can pop slabs over them, but eventually they will find a way out.
Basal shoots (aka suckers) are those pesky shoots that sprout from the base of your bay tree—often below the graft or straight out of the roots. If left, they’ll steal energy from the main plant and make your neat lollipop bay look like it’s having a bad hair day.
What You’ll Need to Remove Basal Shoots from Bay (Sprouts)
Sharp secateurs or loppers
Gloves (bay leaves can be tough and scratchy)
A clear view of the base of the tree
1. Find the Source
Clear any mulch or leaves from around the base. You’re looking for shoots emerging from:
The rootstock (below the graft line on standard bays)
The base of the main stem or underground
2. Clean and Close Cuts
Using clean, sharp secateurs, you're now going to remove those shoots as close to the original tree or bay shrub as possible.
Cut the shoot as close to the root or trunk as possible
Don’t leave little stubs—they’ll just regrow
Don’t rip or tear them off—this damages the bark and invites infection.
3. Repeat as Needed
Basal shoots can reappear through the growing season, especially in spring and summer. Check every month and stay on top of them.
Plants to cover and out compete basal shoots
As for things that are fast and love shade, try Sweet Woodruff for a blast of springtime fragrance and flower, it's voracious. Ferns are also a good bet; dig out and remove the sprouts where you want the ferns to grow as they establish. One of the plants which would easily colonise this area is Green Alkanet, the leaves can be a bit of an irritant, though, for children. Wild garlic is a good one and can be planted now, or Vinca major.
You could grow in pots but the watering will become bothersome!
One other word of caution is that most plants are poisonous to different degrees, whether it's eating them, rubbing parts of them or roots into eyes or the mouth. The best bet is to teach your kids to admire plants but never eat them unless an adult has prepared them. The above are all pretty non-toxic, though!
All the best
Lee Garden Ninja

Hi @sophiepenneyhotmail-co-uk

Thanks for your question and kind words on my top shade loving plants guide here.

The issue with established bay trees sprouting or sending out runners around the base is that they need cutting off ideally. Yes, you can pop slabs over them, but eventually they will find a way out.

Basal shoots (aka suckers) are those pesky shoots that sprout from the base of your bay tree—often below the graft or straight out of the roots. If left, they’ll steal energy from the main plant and make your neat lollipop bay look like it’s having a bad hair day.

What You’ll Need to Remove Basal Shoots from Bay (Sprouts)

Sharp secateurs or loppers
Gloves (bay leaves can be tough and scratchy)
A clear view of the base of the tree

1. Find the Source

Clear any mulch or leaves from around the base. You’re looking for shoots emerging from:

The rootstock (below the graft line on standard bays)
The base of the main stem or underground

2. Clean and Close Cuts

Using clean, sharp secateurs, you're now going to remove those shoots as close to the original tree or bay shrub as possible.

Cut the shoot as close to the root or trunk as possible
Don’t leave little stubs—they’ll just regrow

Don’t rip or tear them off—this damages the bark and invites infection.

3. Repeat as Needed

Basal shoots can reappear through the growing season, especially in spring and summer. Check every month and stay on top of them.

Plants to cover and out compete basal shoots

As for things that are fast and love shade, try Sweet Woodruff for a blast of springtime fragrance and flower, it's voracious. Ferns are also a good bet; dig out and remove the sprouts where you want the ferns to grow as they establish. One of the plants which would easily colonise this area is Green Alkanet, the leaves can be a bit of an irritant, though, for children. Wild garlic is a good one and can be planted now, or Vinca major.

You could grow in pots but the watering will become bothersome!

One other word of caution is that most plants are poisonous to different degrees, whether it's eating them, rubbing parts of them or roots into eyes or the mouth. The best bet is to teach your kids to admire plants but never eat them unless an adult has prepared them. The above are all pretty non-toxic, though!

All the best

Lee Garden Ninja

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Shady plant that could compete with a Bay tree thats sending out sprouts and basal suckers