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Bay tree issues (yellowing/browning leaves)

CordovaCordova Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all,

I've got a bay tree which has started looking decidedly unhappy - within the last couple of weeks, the leaves have started to go "tough", and are going a rusty yellowish brownish colour. Some of them have obviously been eaten by something, others have black spots on them, some have a white "candy floss-like" substance on them, and there's little insects on some of them (they look a bit like a grey aphid):







The plant itself is 15+ years old, and is relatively large (approximately 3' across/tall). It's kept in a pot near to the house in a north-facing garden - it is relatively sheltered from the cold but not so much the wind (although it doesn't normally get windy), and gets a reasonable amount of light but isn't in full sun. I'm sure it needs to go in a larger pot.

Any ideas what this is, and how it can be treated would be greatly appreciated. I think it may have bay sucker, but I don't know if there are other issue showing as well.

Thanks :)

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I suspect that your bay is pot-bound and very very thirsty. 

    How big is the pot? Can you lift and place it in an even bigger container which is full of water … if I’m correct there will then be lots of air bubbles appearing … leave it in there for several hours until it stops bubbling … lift the tree and pot out of the water and place it raised on pot feet or bricks or something to allow it to drain. 

    I would then repot it in a mix of John Innes No 3 loambased compost and done horticultural grit in a ratio of 3:1. 

    My standard bay is watered generously every two or three days from March until the end of September. 

    I find that spraying the foliage every couple of weeks with a dilution of seaweed fertilizer will perk up the foliage, but I’d trim off those damaged ones. 

    🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    If it likely needs repotting then I think that's the first thing to do - using a John Innes type of potting compost with some added grit.
    Use pot feet or similar to keep the pot raised off the ground a little to ensure free drainage - esp. important in winter.
    If it's struggling in the pot it's in it'll not be in the best of health leaving it open to attack by all sorts of bugs and diseases.
    It may well have dried out too which would weaken it further.

    I give mine in pots a feed with seaweed extract once a month and they're in fine health.
    Mine are also in complete shade except for a couple of hours of sun during summer mornings 

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2022
    I agree it needs repotting … but if it’s rootbound and dry the rootball must be thoroughly wetted through first .., otherwise it will always be dry and the re-potting will fail. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • CordovaCordova Posts: 2
    Thanks for the super-speedy replies - it's much appreciated! :)

    I put the pot in an old kitchen bowl, and filled it up with water (somewhere in the region of 4-8 pints). Whilst there wasn't any bubbling, you could watch the water level go down - after about 15 minutes, all of the water had been drawn into the pot. I did refill the bowl, but no further water was drawn into it in the following 90 minutes, so I've put the pot on 3 blocks so that any excess can drain off.

    The pot it's in is about 12" in diameter (inside), and a little taller. I'll have a look for a new pot (I assume something about 2' in diameter would be about right?) and re-pot it as directed.

    I'll also pick up some seaweed fertiliser. Is there anything else I should be doing in the mean-time?

    Thanks! :)
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited May 2022
    I'm sure it's feeling better already :)
    Your plan sounds good.
    A much bigger pot and a John Innes compost with added grit will suit it nicely and should keep it going for years.
    The seaweed will help to keep it in good health.
    If you have access to rainwater, use that for watering and feeding.
    Once in a blue moon (sometime in summer, but not this year) give the pot a really thorough soak until lots of water comes from the bottom of the pot.
    Using fertilizers on plants in pots can cause a build up of unused minerals - It's good to flush them out once a year - a bit like a car service :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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