Bay trees please help!

funkymonkey849

I have bought two bay trees, they are about 2ft including the pot. I bought them a week ago, since then they have sprouted quite a lot of new leaves but the old ones are going dry and not looking too healthy, some have even fallen off.

Today I looked and it seems something is eating the new and old leaves :eek: They have munch holes in and some going a bit brown.

Can't see any evidence of any bugs on the leaves but in the soil there seems to be lots of little grey mites running around :eek:

The trees are inside at the moment and well watered, they won't be going outside for another week.

Please help I don't want them to die

funkymonkey849

Anyone?

icecreamdogpark

White spider mites? If it is you need to spray them with soapy water to the underside of the leaves every 3 to 4 weeks as the 2nd load of eggs will hatch then keep spraying every 3 to 4 weeks till no more signs !

pookiewn

I have no idea about the grey ones but did a quick google for you

Could these be the insects?

Have you looked on the underside of the leaves? It maybe that there are red spider mites as well, they are green in the summer so not that visible. I had some on a banana plant, at first it looked like the leaves were being eaten, then the leaves started to go a rusty colour.

It might be worth spraying them with washing up liquid every few days, or perhaps something stronger! Hope this helps.

squack

holes chewed in the edges of leaves could be vine weevils

floss2

Whatever it is, you could put the trees outside now. Mine lives in a pot in our back yard all year round, wrapped up in fleece during the winter.

I would suggest giving the plants a good hair-cut, taking off any damaged leaves & cutting back to undamaged ones. Don't worry that it is too harsh - I had to do the same to mine a couple of weeks ago & there are lots of new leaves growing. Put the cuttings into your bin or burn them, DON'T put into a compost bin.

Then spray with a good bug spray - top & underneath of all the leaves. Spray again every few days for 3 weeks to get rid of all eggs.

funkymonkey849

Thanks everyone

The trees can't go outside until Friday. They have lots of new growth this week so I think I will tidy up the old leaves on the weekend.

I can't see any evidence of beasties under the leaves, or anywhere on the plant! But they don't seem to be dying...

No idea what's eating them though, but it's not too bad so will just keep an eye on it