[Grubbypaws]

My bay tree is looking very sorry for itself. I am not sure whether it was the low temperatures that we have had or the drought. I have cut off all the dead and dying and fed it but have just seen that the bark has split on the main stem at the bottom. I presume that I caused it by giving it a good drenching when I realised quite how dry the soil was. Is it a goner?

[JayG]

My bay tree is about 20 years old and has survived everything, including being literally sawn down to less than half its previous size about 5 years ago. 
Only thing that sometimes troubles it is persistent cold easterly winds which tend to scorch some of the leaves
(it's protected by the house from northerly winds.)

Unless it's a very young tree, and in a pot which got very dry for a long period of time, I'd be surprised if it's a goner if it's still showing signs of life, although admittedly splitting bark is not a good sign.
Don't bin it yet! 

[Grubbypaws]

Unless it's a very young tree, and in a pot which got very dry for a long period of time, I'd be surprised if it's a goner if it's still showing signs of life, although admittedly splitting bark is not a good sign.
Don't bin it yet! 

It is young and in a pot which got very dry for a long time 

For some reason my head didnt register how dry things had become. I guess I m not used to watering in April!

[jezza]

Hello did you happen to water it with tap water they dont like lime,try a drop of sequestrine iron I found that livened one up that had been watered with tap water    jezza

[JayG]

Poor drainage is the #1 enemy of bay trees, #2 is very low temperatures and/or cold winds.
They don't need acidic soil at all.

[jambop]

My god lucky you! I have a bay hedge that the previous owner planted 30 odd years ago and I have had to hack it back so many times and it still regrows to about 10 ft high again. I have now cut it back to ground level and a local is going to completely dig the roots out so I will be rid of it and can erect a fence in its place. I was almost passing out with the smell of bay leaves when I cut it back with the chainsaw Bay together with fig and bramble are pest plants in my garden never finished weeding them out