Comments on: Distressed Bay Laurel Plants in Need of Assistance

By: Debbie

Debbie — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:15:55 +0000

I have a bay leaf plant and for about a month and a half my leaves have like a clear sticky secretion on the on them. I moved it inside in the fall and it was doing ok, but I am beginning to worry that maybe I have watered it too much. Would this cause what I’ve described going on with the leaves or could it be something else?

By: Ranelle

Ranelle — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:46:15 +0000

Hello, I have my first bay leaf plant and love it. Its only 8″ tall and has two branches from main shoot (only shoot) I have it planted in a clay pot because in Kentucky I believe it has to come inside in the winter. I have noticed the main shoot has started to turn brown at the base, right were it goes into the dirt, anyone know what I can do?
THANKS IN ADVANCE.

By: freddie

freddie — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:03:34 +0000

I have two bay trees growing next to one another outdoors, they are exposed to the wind. One tree is fine but the other has small black spots all over the leaves. These leaves are then turning brown and dying. Soon the tree won’t have any leaves left! What should I do? Looking online just seems to give conflicting advice.
Thanks

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:22:57 +0000

I live in Chicago and I have a small bay laurel plant that I bought last summer. So far, it’s still alive but I’m having a problem that I haven’t been able to find any answers for. Some of the mature leaves look like something is taking a big bite out of them. I figure that the “bites” are being done by some sort of aphid. Also, there are bright green new leaves forming, after they’ve grown to about a 1/2 inch, they turn dark brown and curl up and die. So I sprayed them with insecticidal soap. The new leaves look worse and it’s too soon to tell if the mature leaves are being helped. Does anyone know what might be causing this? I can send a photo if necessary. Thanks!

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:16:48 +0000

Hi Freda, I would try to save the plant… just prune out the dead stuff, keep it watered as needed, and give it a chance to rebound. Good luck!

By: Freda Wyatt

Freda Wyatt — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 20:37:16 +0000

Hello
I have not lived in my home long and outside the back door i had this health green bush. It suddenly went brown the leafs are dried up. A friend of mine visited and said it was a bay leaf Bush, we checked the stem to see if it was dead but they are still green we also notice new growth at the bottom, what should i do cut it right down get rid of dead leaves or is the plant not worth saving HELP! this gardening life is new to me.

By: Kenny Point

Kenny Point — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:57:33 +0000

Hello, I would cut the bay tree back but not as far down as you have suggested. Then give it time to see if it will resprout. Good luck I hope it recovers and I had a tree that I just knew was completely dead… and today the same tree is over six feet tall and bushy.

By: Daisychain

Daisychain — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:49:44 +0000

Hi there, I have a four foot bay which has been in a pot for over 10 years. It became pot bound so I planted it out at the edge of my patio in place of a phormium which had been lost due to the last severe frost we had here (Bucks, uk). Since it has been in the ground we have had another very cold spell and the leaves started to get black spots, then turn brown, this has spread all over the tree to the point where there are about four leaves which are green. Most of the side shoots I have tried to bend have snapped off suggesting it is dead. There appear however to be some tiny buds starting right at the base. If I cut every dead-looking bit off this tree it will be miniscule…. is this the correct thing to do?? I really want to save it!!Thanks!