While waiting to see if it recovers, you could remove all the dead leaves surrounding the trunks on the ground, incorporate some organic matter into the surrounding soil and give your plant lots of water. If the roots are still viable and the weather turns milder, your plant may recover. I wouldn't prune until fresh leaf buds start to appear below the browned leaves and stems.
thank you - and ref, the shoots coming out of the soil below the tree - should i pull these out so they aren't competing with the tree for nutrients/etc?
Yes - I've just noticed the OP is in south Wales and I don't think it'll be particularly warm there through March. Always better to err on the side of caution. I agree with @Plantminded - tidy up around the base, and add some compost or similar. It seems to be growing in the grass though, which is competition for moisture, so if you can strip a bit of that away to give a clear space for adding that, it will help.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes - I've just noticed the OP is in south Wales and I don't think it'll be particularly warm there through March. Always better to err on the side of caution. I agree with @Plantminded - tidy up around the base, and add some compost or similar. It seems to be growing in the grass though, which is competition for moisture, so if you can strip a bit of that away to give a clear space for adding that, it will help.
amazing thank you - any particular compost or is it all much the same? lol
Avoid standard multi purpose compost, it's really only good for short term growing. You'll find something called farmyard manure or soil conditioner in a good garden centre, I buy the Westland brand sometimes which is good.
Newly planted it would have needed to be watered copiously. In the late autumn we had rain the ground was then saturated, then very cold temperatures so the wet ground was frozen. It has had a terrible time. I am not sure if you have any rights but many Garden Centres offer guarantees for shrubs and trees. It does sound like you paid a GC price for it!
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I couldn't see the very bottom of the stems. They may have been buried too deep and that might have killed the bark.
Bit I wouldn't do any fertilising, oe composting until you are sure they are alive. Also, leave the suckers for now, if the roots are alive they will grow into new trees.
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."
Here are a couple of 2-3 year old baytree seedlings. My cheapo camera is not able to select depth of focus. But I think you can make out the bays against a disorganised background. In another 5 years they will be looking like standard-mopheads.
They were self-seeded and just hoiked out the ground with no respect from the roots.
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."
Just a tip @bede ... I find it's best to keep the support cane vertical and use some soft twine or similar at several places up the stem of your plant, otherwise you'll end up with a wonky lollipop rather than a straight one.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Posts
Always better to err on the side of caution.
I agree with @Plantminded - tidy up around the base, and add some compost or similar. It seems to be growing in the grass though, which is competition for moisture, so if you can strip a bit of that away to give a clear space for adding that, it will help.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Bit I wouldn't do any fertilising, oe composting until you are sure they are alive. Also, leave the suckers for now, if the roots are alive they will grow into new trees.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
This year after I removed the fleece. Just a cut back and tidy up needed.
Same plant's stem. Damage happen about 10 winters ago:
I now protect the stem with bubble wrap. This bay was the furthest potted bay from the house, but you can see how close it is:
I must go out. No time to sort out the pics.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
They were self-seeded and just hoiked out the ground with no respect from the roots.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.