Doors at front door?...and dying

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and a complete gardening novice so please go easy on me!

Last summer I bought a pair of plants for our front door, the house is south-west facing.

I don't know what they are and don't know if I can save them. Apologies if these two questions should be split between forums. I'm guessing it's a quick answer for most gardeners.

It was fine through the summer so it may well just be because of the winter. It is sheltered a little by a doormer but I think it still gets some water when it rains. I started watering it a few months ago when the leaves were really browning but it doesn't seem to have helped. The other thought I had was whether the pots are suitable.

Any ideas if I can save these?

Any help much appreciated!

 

Hi Mark and welcome to GC.

Your shrubs look like Bay trees to me (ie, the leaves you use in cooking). Are the leaves fragrant when crushed? It appears they have suffered a harsh winter but you don't say where you live.

I have one here in Portugal that gets sooty mould every winter due to our heavy rains and I have just finished the horrid task of wiping every leaf with soapy water.

Assuming they are Bays, I would suggest that you strip all the dead leaves off and lightly trim them and they should re-shoot quickly as they are a very hardy shrub.

I'm sure someone from the UK will come along and give you some further advice.

Good luck.

 

Thanks very much for the info.

I should have said, I'm in the UK, north-west. We have had a harsh winter.

I'l go ahead and try what you said.

Thanks

 

I'm thinking maybe the roots froze solid last winter.

Give the bark a scrach with a knife, and check its green underneath.
If not keep going down lower till you find live wood.

 

Certainly looks like a bay tree. Apparently they don't like temperatures below -5 so need protection during very cold spells. I covered mine with fleece last winter but the top half was still damaged and looks similar to the photos. Luckily the bottom half is ok so I've now got a smaller plant.

One lady lost six standards that she had standing outside her shop, I bet they'll cost a pretty penny to replace.

 

aye id say a bay tree as well,dont know about needing frost protection ive had mine 11 years never protected it from any weather,im on the west coast of scotland in the highlands we had minus 19-20 here and i get 90-100 mile per hour northerly gales straight across the garden,definately go with the bark scratching and repot if signs of life also a prune back

 

Mines looking pretty much like yours Mark and its 10 years old.

I did the scratch test on the stem and it is still green,

so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will recover.finger drum