Bay (Laurel) Bush: Live or Die?

[february]

I have succesfully grown a (now three feet) handsome bay from a weeny little thing. It is in a large teracotta pot but I'd like to plant it into the centre of my herb bed.
In order to do that, I wanted to shape it into a twisty tall colum with a ball on top. I know, I have these crazy ideas.
I have pruned all its leaves from base to a third of the way up and revealed three thick stems. Twisting and tying them together has produced a very pleasing effect.
My question is:
Will it live or die after such brutalisation? Is it possible to train a bay bush in such a way? I've seen the topiary ones and they're always a single stem.
What say you my friends: would you wager on its successful future?

[whitedragon]

Bay is bom proof lol it will live

[february]

I shall hold you to that

[Lizald]

What a fantastic idea.

Did it work - has it survived the season?

I'd love to see photos of it if you've done it.

A feature on my website too if you're interested?

Regards

Liz

[Martin G]

I've got a huge one in the garden I planted probably over twenty years ago now I wish I had trained it and I have had to have it severely pruned a couple of times to stop it growing any higher. I should think it's about the height of the gutter of the house....restricted. I wish I had trained it in early life, it died down to the ground the first winter then shot up after that, I can afford to be very wasteful with it in my cooking !!

[PlantingJoe]

Wow, I'd love to see picture too, and Martin, sounds like it's huuge!