Bay Tree Dead?

Hello All!

I would be very greatful for any help you can give. My Boyfriend was given a Bay Tree some time ago by his parents and since then his father has passed on. I would love to help revive the tree if possible as I think such a special gift means so much to him. I have atttached a picture of the tree. The branches are still flexible but brittle in places and the once gorgeous leaves are now brown.

Thank you si much for any help!

 

Hi & Welcome Zippyants.

Not looking good from the pic, a bay tree should have green leaves all year. Been a bad winter.

Saying that, if its still flexible then there is still a chance. My fig tree looked dead after the previous winter but got new leaves in august.

Keep it watered & in a sheltered sunny spot & we'll keep em crossed for you.

 

i think i`d be inclined to weed and repot the bay as well

 

i would definitely repot it - tease out the roots a bit and hope for the best

Loopy lou

 

Mine looks just like that, only it's 20 feet high and in a half barrel tub (so I can't pot up).
I've been giving it liquid feeds to encourage it + plenty of water (as it's only rained 3 times here in the last 8 weeks).

About a week ago the first green shoot appeared and now there's dozens, but whole branches appear to be completey dead.

 

Thanks!

Thanks all for your replies,

I will try what you have suggested and fingers crossed!

 

Green shoots!



When it snows I often wonder if it's best to leave it on the bay tree or knock it off before it freezes into a great lump of ice. When it snowed in December I knocked the snow off with a broom before it went solid.

Was that the right thing to do?

 

I also have a Bay tree like that. It is planted in the ground about 10 foot tall and all leaves are brown and dry. I will be giving it a good trim shortly and hope that it will revive.


Trevor

 

Well...........I have re-potted the tree and followed all advice on here.....it will be my first "real" gardening moment and hopefully not my last!

I've never had a garden before and my boyfriend has always been a little hesitant at letting me loose on his.....for good reason I think.....and so he now has a bay tree repotted, his bird bath has been re-positioned and I even mowed the lawn........although lawn now resembles a crop circle ha ha.

Will keep this forum as my "bible" as I try and take over his garden some more

 

Update - my sad looking bay (described in posts #7 & 9 over page) now has new shoots opening/bursting out all over it, including places where there haven't been any for years! Only the very lowest set of branches are showing no sign of life - yet, but it's looking as if it's actually going to end up looker better than before that freezing winter.