Based on your description, it sounds like your bay trees may be suffering from a few different issues. The browning of the leaves could be a sign of drought stress or overwatering, while the bark coming away from the main stem could be an indicator of root rot or pest infestation.
Here are some steps you can take to help your bay trees survive:
Check the soil moisture: Use a moisture meter or stick your finger into the soil to determine if it is too wet or too dry. If the soil feels too wet, cut back on watering and ensure good drainage by adding more sand or perlite to the soil. If the soil is too dry, water more frequently or increase the amount of water you give the plants each time.
Check for pests: Look for signs of pests such as aphids, spider mites, or scale insects. These can be treated with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Improve soil quality: Adding organic matter to the soil, such as compost or well-rotted manure, can improve the overall health of your plants and help retain moisture.
Prune damaged branches: Remove any dead or damaged branches with sharp, clean pruners. This will encourage new growth and prevent further damage.
Provide shade: If your bay trees are located in an area with too much sun exposure, consider providing some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent drought stress.
Overall, it's important to keep a close eye on your bay trees and address any issues as soon as they arise. With the right care, your plants can recover and thrive.
They [bays] always look pretty dreadful here, and so do those Photinias I'm afraid. Your location and climate will play a big part on choices. There's a garden near me which had a row of standard bay trees put in along the otherwise open boundary with the neighbour. Every day I passed it on my way to and from work, and wondered how long it would be before they succumbed. They did, after one or two years, and were replaced by standard Photinias. They didn't last either - one or two years again, by which time they were truly hideous. They were replaced again by roses. At last someone's got the message and used plants which were going to thrive.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Looking again at the "dead" baytree pics. It doesn't look like frost damage. With frost one gets more of a shrivelled effect. Yours look as though they have died from the bottom up. Possibly from the roots up. Die back from damaged bark is more of a slow death.
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to review my photos and offer bespoke advice, it is much appreciated.
I am obviously devestated to read that the bays are not salvageable. It was an expensive project to source the plants (£500+ inc rosemary) and have them planted (£200 labour) plus a two 2hr round trip with a 1 yr old to hand pick the bays 🤦♀️.
Aesthetically it was the look I was going for but clearly I should have invested more on professional advice up front regarding appropriate plants for the desired location and soil quality. Lesson learned!
Solo parenting with a toddler, I have very little time (and budget), so wanted something low maintenance to fill the recently created beds, hence the hedge of rosemary and symmetrical look of the lollipops. There are some alliums along the front edge which I'm happy are starting to poke through the bark this past week, so hopefully we'll have bit of colour over the summer while I figure out what to do with the bays, and wait to see if the rosemary springs back! 🌱
The comments about dying from roots up are interesting as I 'think' the bark had started to peel before the frosts came.
There is heavy clay here but those beds are full of top soil with added compost and sand through the top 2 feet. Maybe that wasn't enough to stop clay running underground in wet weather? We're at the base of a hill.
I have two bays at the front of the house in large whiskey barrel pots and they are doing really well. Only £30 each from Aldi too! They are obviously sheltered by the house though and enjoy full sun from south facing position.
Your conditions dictate how the soil behaves too @chloewebber01FRI2B6, and also how much planting is around etc. Heavy clay is best amended and improved over time with lots of organic matter. Soil and sand isn't necessarily the best option either, as it can still be a heavy mix rather than well drained. Ok for summer conditions, but not so good over autumn/winter which can then take a toll. Establishing mature plants of any kind is also more difficult than planting a smaller specimen - as you've found with the other ones you bought. You may find the rosemary doesn't do brilliantly either as the site's exposed and the soil might be too heavy. They can be iffy in colder, wetter, exposed sites even in well drained conditions.
I'm sorry you've had that expense and it hasn't worked out. Sometimes these things happen, but hopefully, you can find something else which will work for you. We can offer suggestions for other shrubs which might suit, and won't need to much effort regarding maintenance.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
Based on your description, it sounds like your bay trees may be suffering from a few different issues. The browning of the leaves could be a sign of drought stress or overwatering, while the bark coming away from the main stem could be an indicator of root rot or pest infestation.
Here are some steps you can take to help your bay trees survive:
Check the soil moisture: Use a moisture meter or stick your finger into the soil to determine if it is too wet or too dry. If the soil feels too wet, cut back on watering and ensure good drainage by adding more sand or perlite to the soil. If the soil is too dry, water more frequently or increase the amount of water you give the plants each time.
Check for pests: Look for signs of pests such as aphids, spider mites, or scale insects. These can be treated with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Improve soil quality: Adding organic matter to the soil, such as compost or well-rotted manure, can improve the overall health of your plants and help retain moisture.
Prune damaged branches: Remove any dead or damaged branches with sharp, clean pruners. This will encourage new growth and prevent further damage.
Provide shade: If your bay trees are located in an area with too much sun exposure, consider providing some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent drought stress.
Overall, it's important to keep a close eye on your bay trees and address any issues as soon as they arise. With the right care, your plants can recover and thrive.
There's a garden near me which had a row of standard bay trees put in along the otherwise open boundary with the neighbour. Every day I passed it on my way to and from work, and wondered how long it would be before they succumbed. They did, after one or two years, and were replaced by standard Photinias. They didn't last either - one or two years again, by which time they were truly hideous.
They were replaced again by roses. At last someone's got the message and used plants which were going to thrive.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I am obviously devestated to read that the bays are not salvageable. It was an expensive project to source the plants (£500+ inc rosemary) and have them planted (£200 labour) plus a two 2hr round trip with a 1 yr old to hand pick the bays 🤦♀️.
Aesthetically it was the look I was going for but clearly I should have invested more on professional advice up front regarding appropriate plants for the desired location and soil quality. Lesson learned!
Solo parenting with a toddler, I have very little time (and budget), so wanted something low maintenance to fill the recently created beds, hence the hedge of rosemary and symmetrical look of the lollipops. There are some alliums along the front edge which I'm happy are starting to poke through the bark this past week, so hopefully we'll have bit of colour over the summer while I figure out what to do with the bays, and wait to see if the rosemary springs back! 🌱
Thanks again 🙏
There is heavy clay here but those beds are full of top soil with added compost and sand through the top 2 feet. Maybe that wasn't enough to stop clay running underground in wet weather? We're at the base of a hill.
I have two bays at the front of the house in large whiskey barrel pots and they are doing really well. Only £30 each from Aldi too! They are obviously sheltered by the house though and enjoy full sun from south facing position.
Establishing mature plants of any kind is also more difficult than planting a smaller specimen - as you've found with the other ones you bought.
You may find the rosemary doesn't do brilliantly either as the site's exposed and the soil might be too heavy. They can be iffy in colder, wetter, exposed sites even in well drained conditions.
I'm sorry you've had that expense and it hasn't worked out. Sometimes these things happen, but hopefully, you can find something else which will work for you. We can offer suggestions for other shrubs which might suit, and won't need to much effort regarding maintenance.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
About 12 years from a seed. Cost me zero except time, compost and pot.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."