Bay tree drying out

Hi Everyone

I have a Bay Tree whose leaves are curling and dry. Bought a year ago. It is outside the front door which is south facing so gets plenty of sun (maybe too much). We left it outside in winter which may be the reason it is struggling but I have tried everything using slightly acidic soil last year although I mixed in some Coco & Coir Peat Free All Purpose Compost Fertilised with NPK about a week ago thinking that the problem was nutrient deficiency?. I water it regularly and it is out of the wind. Any ideas what the problem could be?

Many thanks

Matthew

 

@Matthew Rosen-Marsh So long as the pot didn't freeze solid, winter cold wouldn't be a problem. Possibly it could have got too dry over winter in a sunny spot.
I would scrape back some of the bark towards the ends of the branches and check it is still green and healthy underneath; if so take it out of the pot and have a look at the root ball if this is dry and tight then soak in a bucket of water for 30-60 minutes and it is well wetted. Then untangle some of the roots and open the root ball up. Repot in John Innes No 3 with 30 - 50% added grit. Water and if possible stand out of the sun until it gets going. Water only when dry.
What can happen with plants in pots is that they get "pot bound " where the roots form a tight ball if this dries out rewetting it can be a problem and water added just runs round the outside.
This is why people are often advised to soak newly bought plants in a bucket before planting and to break open the root ball and spread the roots around the planting hole or new pot; watering after planting helps bring the new compost into close contact with the roots.

 

Thanks - really helpful. is the added grit something I buy seoerately and add manually or included in the the John innes product?

 

Hi
Have researched and ordered potting grit and compost. Thanks again for your advice.

 

To really thrive it needs to be released from captivity (pot) and would enjoy plenty of old farmyard manure. Traditionally grown alongside privvies, for mutual benefit.

 

I worked on the bay leaf tonight. The ends of the branches were brown and dry. However further down towards the trunk the branches are green. I soaked it and untangled some of root ball. Reported it in a bigger bowl with fresh compost. My question is given the state of the leaves (very dried out) and branches would it better to cut the branches back to where they are green?

 

@Matthew Rosen-Marsh I would cut back to the green section and cross your fingers.

 

Wish me luck!

 

Good luck.

We have ours planted in the ground and it fine through Winter.
I don't do anything to it, it just happily does it's own thing.

 

The good news is they can be very hard pruned. I've cut one back from 8 ft to about 6" and it came back inno time at all.

 

They can also be reproduced by layering; that is by holding a green stem at or below soil level with wire clips until it roots, probably a full season before you can sever the 'child' from the parent .Cuttings also.

 

I have some in tubs and some in the ground. They all do well but the ones in the ground get huge and I have to cut them back drastically every year. (lovely smell when you cut them)
They don't grow so big in pots.

Yes I would cut the branches back to a live part.