Bay Tree problem

[Deleted User]

About 5 years ago i planted a bay tree in my garden. It's now at least 12 feet tall (maybe more) and has always been very healthy BUT it's now about 50% brown leaves (most of which are at the top of plant - so it's not old leaves). The leaves aren't curled; there's no sign of insect or insect damage, and they aren't falling off either - just brown and drooping. They're not dried out and crisp.

Also, some of the leaves that are still green have tiny rust coloured spots on them.

(I'm wondering if it's ONE problem or TWO ?)

Anyone any idea what it is - and what I should do about it.

I hope it isn't a goner

elsien

Are you sure it's not frost damage - my mother and I both have small bay trees in the garden which this year have varying degrees of brown branches and leaves. Not happened before, so we're putting it down to the weather.

[Deleted User]

Could be ! I'd never thought about frost before, but then again it's never had to go through a winter like the last one. That makes a lot of sense.

Do you think it would survive a hard pruning ??

emiff6

Corona wrote: »

Could be ! I'd never thought about frost before, but then again it's never had to go through a winter like the last one. That makes a lot of sense.

Do you think it would survive a hard pruning ??

I agree, probably frost damage after the severe temps we've had this winter. Yes it probably will survive hard pruning. Take a look at this site:
http://www.herbexpert.co.uk/GrowingBayLeaves.html

HTH

Siren1974

My bay trees look just the same, thanks for reassuring me

Lotus-eater

The older leaves should have been OK, it's all the new leaves that will have been killed off by the intense cold.
They seem to take until they are a couple of years old (the leaves) until they can withstand temps below about -6 or -7.

But the good news is that it won't have damaged the tree and it will grow on as normal in the spring.
Also you can wait until the dead leaves dry out on the bush/tree, then use them straight in the kitchen as dried bay leaves, I always do this with my damaged leaves after winter.

ALIBOBSY

The outside leaves on ours are the same. Oh keeps ours cut back each year so it is more of a large bush than a tree. The chickens love bay leaves which is strange, you would think the taste would be too strong for them lol. They also love rooting around in the base of it for insects etc. OH has now extended their run to keep them out of the rest of the garden now its warming up and we want to keep them more contained and they really miss the bay. May have to get another for their half of the garden lol.

ali x

pie2mats

howdy everybody!

A scale insect may target bay these are brownish, usually on the underside of the leaves, so check for those. Or More likely to be over watered. they are generally hardy now.

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janibrown

I have had mine for 12 years now and keep it as a bush not tree but it looks compleatly dead at the moment will just wait and see what happens to it you never no it may just spring back to life

splodger_seedswapper

there really is no point in keeping dead, diseased or damaged parts on a plant - regardless of what it is (if it is dead it won't grow back)

and as bay can be pruned quite hard - i would suggest cutting off any dodgy looking stuff

bay trees can get quite big once they are established so taking the top off will probably do it a bit of good anyway (check it's top growth and help to promote bushing out below)

i always put an offer up on my local recycling group boards - when i prune my bay tree (you'd be amazed at how many people are delighted to get a bag of leaves to dry and use for cooking)