Poorly Bayleaf tree

[lbaker1704]

I am hoping someone can help. My husband has sprayed fence paint onto my bayleaf tree by mistake and the leaves have started to go yellow. Is it dying? What can I do?

[annianni]

Ooops!
Probably cut off the affected leaves if you can.
If it is any consolation, both my Bay trees (1 big, 1 small) are very yellow this year, and I can't work out why......
Hope it is OK.

[lbaker1704]

Thanks for that Annie

[sarraceniac]

Oh dear. even with modern fence sprays you have to be careful. Modern creosote substitute doesn't have the evil tar content of the old-fashioned stuff but it, in common with most other protective sprays, still contains some. As Annie says, cut off affected parts, it won't hurt with a bay, and I would give it a watering with about a tablespoonful of epsom salts in a 5 litre mix.

[Reb Williams]

Oddly enough, my bay trees seem to actively like being stressed. I planted three, and the one in the 'best' site with the most care just kind of sat there, failing. The one that had to fight for space and the one that got sploshed with paint both loved every minute of it and need hacking back with industrial equipment. Well, I exaggerate. But you know what I mean.

Reb
_________
Should I publish? Vote now at Grow Your Own Cows

[glass half full]

If the soil that they are in is of good structure and maintained, the bays should recover with a little judicious pruning. The worst thing, I have found, is when bay trees are subjected to winds. They hate being buffeted!

[ohbeary]

After killing a very nice "Lollipop" bay, 3' 6" with a 2 1/2" thick trunk, by trying to move it, all my bays, from rescued seedlings are in pots, the smallest pots, 3ltr seem to produce the biggest plants!, large leaved, open growth, good flavour, the larger pots, 10ltr terracotta, have bay sharing with box, the ones that get a little wind and more sun have smaller leaves than the ones that get less sun! but with similar wind, all seem to be thriving on neglect though.

[annianni]

Ooops!
Probably cut off the affected leaves if you can.
If it is any consolation, both my Bay trees (1 big, 1 small) are very yellow this year, and I can't work out why......
Hope it is OK.

Update - Husband got a bit carried away with the pruning this weekend, and my previously "big" Bay tree / bush, is not "big" any more......it stood about 10ft tall, and is now about 2ft.......I suggested some other uses for the pruning shears.....haven't seen much of him since!

[sarraceniac]

.......I suggested some other uses for the pruning shears.....haven't seen much of him since!

As long as you've seen the pruning shears.