Checked the tree out this morning. Every emerging leaf bud that I unpicked has a tiny maggot the size of an eyelash. Many leaves had inch long caterpillars and webs. I'd cleared them all yesterday. I've gone for the ultimate solution and cut off every leaf twig and bud and binned them. There's nothing left but branches now. I'm going to spray something on the soil in the container too. If this drastic solution doesn't work, I'll have a huge container sized planting opportunity.
How is yours looking, @b3 ? I don't think that's the solution for mine - it looked great for a while this year but then they returned. I think the same would happen if I removed all the leaves, either this year or next. It's going to be a heck of a job to remove it, and I want to have a plan for what I'll put there instead. I'm just worried that they'll move to something else in the garden, or to its replacement. Rather sad about it.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
@LG_ buds are sprouting but first tiny leaf had a wiggler and a web on it. Apparently eggs are laid in the folds of the buds and the larvae emerge as they open. I've sprayed each bud individually ( easy enough as I'd cut it back to sticks.)and the soil underneath. No flowers at all nearby and no breeze so hopefully I didn't get anything else. If that doesn't work, it's for the compost heap. I'm not up for digging a out big enough pit to plant it out. My bay tree will need repotting next year so if it goes, it goes. I only grew it for the foliage anyway ( past tense already🙁)
Yes, I thought it might do that. I don't think putting it in the ground would help - mine is in the ground, albeit with some root restriction. I've sent a message to the RHS just in case they have any further advice, but also to make them aware (if they aren't already) that there seems to be an increasing problem.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
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I've gone for the ultimate solution and cut off every leaf twig and bud and binned them. There's nothing left but branches now. I'm going to spray something on the soil in the container too. If this drastic solution doesn't work, I'll have a huge container sized planting opportunity.
I don't think that's the solution for mine - it looked great for a while this year but then they returned. I think the same would happen if I removed all the leaves, either this year or next. It's going to be a heck of a job to remove it, and I want to have a plan for what I'll put there instead. I'm just worried that they'll move to something else in the garden, or to its replacement. Rather sad about it.
My bay tree will need repotting next year so if it goes, it goes. I only grew it for the foliage anyway ( past tense already🙁)
Photos . Looks promising so far.