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Bay Rot
Stephen Cornish
Posts: 72
Hi,
One of our clumps of bay tree has in last few years started to gradually die out, with sticks dieing and then rotten out at their base. I've noticed by sticking my head in the bush to see the ground of the bay, a big hole where one of the more major parts of the bay died off several years ago. (See photo above) The area around the base, especially this hole, is rotten, and I figure more is likely to rot over time.
I'm only a novice, but I think I read somewhere once that the base of trees/bushes should be kept free of "rubbish" like leaves etc as it'll start rotten down and then start rotten the tree's base.Should one clear all the "rubbish" out around this bay's base? How best to stop this rot at its base from spreading?
Thanks!
0
Posts
Yes, I'd keep the base clear of dead leaves etc. I think that rot may spell the beginning of the end for that bay, but it may take a good while to reach the end. In the meantime I'd take some cuttings and start growing some new bays in pots so that when the time comes you have something to replace it with.
I find the best way to take cuttings from bay is to use those thin shoots that are coming out of the base, and tear them away from the stump bring a little 'heel' of the stump with them.
Like this
I dip the end in some hormone rooting gel and put several around the edge of a pot filled with a gritty compost. Then put in a cold frame or leave in a sheltered (shady) corner of the garden - make sure it doesn't dry out but it doesn't need to be wet and boggy. Leave it there until you see new growth (which may be a year later) when you can pot on the cuttings individually.
If you want to grow it as a 'bush' then nip out the tip, but if you want to grow 'lollipop bays' don't nip the tips out.
Good luck
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Bay is a suckering plant. If there are new, healthy suckers round the edge, cut out the middle dying ones, fill in the hole with soil and speak to it firmly
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks People. I think you're all right. It's time to show this bay some love, and bring on some new ones before it's the end of this one.
We did once pot up a bay that had planted itself in the garden and grown to a metre ish. We stuck it in the gap but it died within months.
I'll get to cleaning up the base. Should I remove any soil as well as leaves that are lingering on the actual base? I'm assuming so?
To fill the hole or not?
Speak to it firmly nut cutlet, smiling