Bay tree advice

[LindaB]

Hi,
i wonder if you could help me, i have a bay tree which i've had for about 4 years, with the weather being so bad the leaves have gone brown and withered.
if cut it right back do you think it will re-grow again?

thanks.

[Jeanied]

Hi LindaB - yes, it sounds like it has got frost damage. The tree can be hard pruned in spring anyway, and the advice is to remove frost damaged leaves so I think you will be fine.

[LindaB]

brilliant,

thank you for your help, i was worried it could be a gonner. i'll prun it right back.

[Jeanied]

But don't blame me if it dies off, Linda!

[LindaB]

Lol....

i wont, i did think about pruning it but wasnt too sure if it was 'ment' to be pruned.

we shall but see

[rana]

In my experience established bays are bomb proof. In exposed positions the leaves can go brown but I've found you can cut them right back to the ground and they will re-sprout. I took a chainsaw to the one in my garden last autumn cutting it as close to the ground as possible and despite the cold winter it now boasts a number of foot long shoots.

[gillian62]

I've just bought a small bay pot which needs a bit of tlc. Hoping that I can get it going, seems to have a couple of good buds on it.

[LindaB]

Thanks for you help.

i will cut it right back and see what happens

[Scarlet]

I've always been brutal with my bay tree and it's still going strong - but a chain saw is something else!

[Mizjazzi]

Thanks for the advice

Hi all thanks for the advice.
I too have the same problem with one of my bay trees. I moved to Dumfries and it is much more exposed here. Will prune today.
Mizjazzi.

[jackie j]

I have aquired 2 bay tree's on 2nd lottie now I know what to do to them as they look a tad sad.

[Pidge]

I'm off to prune mine now, glad it can be pruned and am looking forward to seeing more sprouting in the spring/summer then.

Presume best covered in frost then, along with the acers?

[Rhona]

We never cover our bay tree in frost or anything else - I really hope I'm not speaking too soon, but it's been fine for about six years now. It seems to thrive on not being fussed over. I 'naturally' prune it almost every day as I use the leaves in cooking all the time. Seems to agree with it.