Dying Bay Tree

[Kristen]

I leave plants that get frosted to see where they start sprouting from. Ceanothus that is completely brown has just started sprouting all down one side, so presumably the other side is dead, and I will prune accordingly once I see how it develops

[ruff]

I've checked mine, the stems looks like its got a bit of life. I could see the light green bits in there and the strong bay smell is still there too. But I noticed the bark starts to have mould too??????? Has anyone got the same problem as I do? Should i get the scourer and start scrubbing those mould from the bark?

[Flummery]

Are you sure it's mould? It could be lichen which means you've got clean air.

[Florence Fennel]

My Bay was the same this year and I'm not sure it will survive, but I chopped it back and potted it on with some fresh compost, teasing out the roots before I did so. I scratched the surface of a couple of stems and they were pale green, so I can but hope.

[Bren In Pots]

Mine looks very sad with mostly brown leaves

[Alison]

I lost my potted bay in the 2009 / 10 winter despite it being fine in other winters. I pruned hard and did all the things mentioned above but no luck. I bought a replacement and although kept in the same place during the summer, I moved the pot into the cold greenhouse over the coldest spell and it's looking fab, no damage at all so will be doing this every year from now on, just in case.

[Helgalush]

My potted bay tree is also looking very sorry for itself. It has some brown leaves but most are green but covered in lots of dark spots. I'm not sure if the cold has done this or if it has some kind of disease. Hope it survives but am not very confident that it will.

[Florence Fennel]

I lost my potted bay in the 2009 / 10 winter despite it being fine in other winters. I pruned hard and did all the things mentioned above but no luck. I bought a replacement and although kept in the same place during the summer, I moved the pot into the cold greenhouse over the coldest spell and it's looking fab, no damage at all so will be doing this every year from now on, just in case.

Wish I'd shut the stable door before the horse bolted Alison. I'll remember this when we get this year's onslaught. Glad yours has survived. Mine is still showing no sign of life.

[zazen999]

Neither is ours, the olive, the eucalyptus all dead as dodos. I've planted sweet peas around the euc to take the pain away whilst we think about buying another. Our Magnolia is also looking rubbish. The 8 fruit trees from Aldi are looking fantastic though. Oh, the irony.

[Scarlet]

I have 3 bay trees (or did!) one of them is in a windy spot and I have always had to prune hard in the spring. This year all three have died, one of them I planted over 10 years ago, is over 12ft tall and there's not a green bit in sight. I'm not looking forward to digging it out...

[ruff]

Are you sure it's mould? It could be lichen which means you've got clean air.

Flummery, it looks like mould to me though. I will have a photo taken and post shortly.

[VirginVegGrower]

Bad winter frosts have caused this to a lot of bays around the country. Mine included! Just spring pruned mine with the hedgetrimmer and top dressed plant base with compost mulch. Looks much better.

[Florence Fennel]

My Bay is officially dead, even though I gave it lots of TLC to try and revive it. Oh well, these things happen.

[Comfreyfan]

Mine was looking very unwell after the winter, it has 4 large trunks growing from ground level and I think 2 may have died, but the other 2 are showing some new growth.

[Scarlet]

Mine too! I cut them down to ground and I've just checked, they all have several new shoots appearing from ground level - some already 6inches tall.