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What’s causing this issue with my bay tree?

omghiomg_123omghiomg_123 Posts: 96
in Problem solving

I have had this bay tree for probably 3/4 years. Last year I noticed it had developed issues with its leaves (see photos above). I wasn’t really sure what to do and as there was still a lot of healthy foliage I just left it. Having uncovered the tree today (I keep it wrapped in fleece over winter) I saw again the poorly leaves. They don’t seem to be significantly worse if at all from last year. Does anyone know what would be causing this? And although the tree might look a bit bare should I just take off the affected leaves? It is planted in the ground, probably not in the best place to be honest - north facing wall and heavy clay soil (I wondered whether it might be to wet?). That being said it is flowering well and still has plenty healthy foliage.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks 

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    There's been quite a lot of threads on bay this year due to awkward weather conditions, so you may be able to do a search and see if that's relevant to yours. The sudden 'frost or ice after wet' cycle.
    It's the most likely reason, but the site and conditions you have it in probably won't be helping.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    Lots of cries for help from baytree owners this winter.  Just search and you will find some on this forum.

    The answer is frost.  Prolonged frost gets through fleece.  You have got off lightly.  I now protect the stem with bubble wrap as well; sem damage is more serious.

    Just tidy to taste.
     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."
  • omghiomg_123omghiomg_123 Posts: 96
    @Fairygirl Yeah funnily enough most of the damage was from last winter, seems to have been ok this time 🤞 I just didn’t know what to do about it and whether it was leaf spot from water logging. I did have a little search but I couldn’t see any whose leaves looked like mine but I will look again. Yeah not the best position, but apart from this it has been ok so fingers crossed

    @bédé i did have a search but couldn’t see any that matched mine but I will look again 🙏 I do protect the stem as well. I will just trim off the affected leaves then, thanks for your help
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