Can I revive my bay tree?

maman

I have a 'lollipop' bay tree in a container which is quite a few years old. It has some fresh leaves and I regularly cut a few off for recipes.


Unfortunately it's looking very sparse and spindly. Leaves tend to be at the ends of longish empty stems/branches. Is there anything I could/should be doing to get more vigorous growth and make the foliage denser?

I_have_spoken

May be a bit 'kill or cure' but you could try taking out container and knocking of as much as the existing compost around the rootball as possible, trim the roots lightly, then replant use John Innes No.3. Ensure even watering over the summer, it'll likely be next year before the plants show regrowth so be patient.

zaax

A non potted Bay tree is normally 30 feet high. If you keep it in a pot like a pet you have have to provide all its needs. It will need a big pot 20"+; lots of water; feeding and keeping frost away from its roots.

Calling14

I took mine out of the container and it is thriving well now.

maman

Thanks for the responses.


I think I want to keep it in a container as I really don't want a 30ft tree!:rotfl:


So consensus seems to be refresh the compost and feed it through the summer.


I'll give it a try.


Should I prune it at all?