Bay tree

Scotty123 · April 2021

I was given a bay tree that had been growing in a garden happily for over 10 years as the owner was moving I planted last summer but very quickly the leaves turned brown and crispy and fell off as it was in full sun (heat wave last year) moved very quickly to a more protected part of the garden but it lost all its leaves and is now completely bare - the tree is still alive but no new shoots or anything is happening as of yet .
should I cut the tree right back or just leave it to recover ?
I live in Thurrock south east England
does anyone have any advice please

Ceres · April 2021

Hi Scotty and welcome to the forum.

Your bay tree has had quite a year. When your neighbour gifted it to you, the root ball was probably not complete as it is difficult to dig up a mature plant and get the entire system out of the ground. That would have stressed the plant and it wouldn't have been able to pull enough water out of the ground to feed the visible part of the plant. It should have been cut back a lot so that it could regrow a decent root system. The hot summer wouldn't have helped and a lot of us have lost mature plants in the heat (some of mine looked as though they had burnt) so I am not surprised your bay tree lost its leaves.

It sounds as though the bay needs to be cut back hard so that it can recover and put on new growth from the base, always supposing it hasn't gone past the point of no return. Fingers crossed it works.

Scotty123 · April 2021

Hi Ceres
thank you so much for the advice
So I can cut back even now in April ?

Ceres · April 2021

Absolutely. This is basically emergency surgery to save the plant so cut it back now. No guarantees it will work as the bay may be too damaged but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Scotty123 · April 2021

Thanks very much Ceres
fingers crossed 🤞

Bay tree

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