Shaping / Trimming
Bay trees need very little pruning once a year is plenty do this in the autumn as plant tend to bleed if pruned in the growing season. It takes longer but always use secateurs and not shears as these can tend to lead to browning on the edges of the cut leaf. With Secateurs you can trim the stem and not the leaf.
Where To Grow
Bays do need a fairly sheltered spot. If they are planted in a cold exposed area they will suffer from wind burn. Some shade will be tolerated. They are really quite versatile when it comes to different soil types most moist but well drained soils will be fine. In pots always use John Innis compost this is soil based and will hold nutrients longer and not dry out as quick.
Feeding
If you are growing them in containers then for best results use a slow release fertiliser such as Osmocote this will normally last all season but if you find the foliage turning pale then a liquid feed could be applied during the growing months. Alternatively use a general fertiliser in early spring and again mid summer if it is not to dry.
Pest and diseases
Brown Leaves? The most common problem is suffering from irregular watering. This is especially important when growing in pots these plants can die in the winter as well as the summer from lack of water when grown in pots.
Scale insects can be a problem on bay trees the first symptom you normally see is sticky substance on the top of the leaves this can normally turn black and sooty mold then grows on this substance. The substance itself is normally the secretion of sale insects that are living on the underside of the leaves their secretion then drops on to the lower leaves. You will need a systemic insecticide to cure this problem.