[woodavon]

OK I've read other comments about frost damaged leaves....  I couldn't move our bay tree indoors but did shelter it as much as pos this winter but its leaves are still crispy and brown   I've watered it loads but should I just remove the leaves as they die or prune the branches back?

[peapod]

I've pruned mine right back, given them plenty of water but no food.  I've also given them a bug spray (very rare for me) just in case they have to contend with that this year.

There's nothing more I can do, and I'm crossing my fingers, as these were 'hospital' plants that I bought cheaply a few years ago and they are very special to me.

[suziet88]

Mine are the same.  I have pruned them back to about half their size but many leaves are still brown.  Now waiting to see if new green shoots appear.

[BabbyAnn]

last summer I didn't realise how dry the pot had got until I was staring at a tree covered in brown leaves    Although it looked dead, the main wood was still green, so I cut it right back, repotted it and nursed it and although slow at first, new shoots appeared and it's now fine    So don't despair, I'm sure they'll recover!

[debih]

Mine has gone the same but I haven't done anything with it yet as I didn't know what to do.

When you say "cut it right back" what do you mean - cut it right down so there are no branches left on it, or cut it at strategic places?

[peapod]

Mine has gone the same but I haven't done anything with it yet as I didn't know what to do.

When you say "cut it right back" what do you mean - cut it right down so there are no branches left on it, or cut it at strategic places?

I've cut mine right back to where the wood is still green and removed all the dead wood.

Scrape away a bit of bark in different places.  It will show you where it is green or dead. Also check if the wood is 'bendy' in areas too.

[goose]

Thanks for starting this topic, i was getting very worried about one of mine too

Will give it a trim later.  Its one of an identical pair so the other will have to have a haircut too to match

[New shoot]

Bay is OK down to about -5 degrees C but then starts to suffer.  My mini standard bay which I grew from a cutting is looking sad as well, but I'm going to prune back to live wood like Peapod suggests.

The good news is that bay is very tough and it should come back.  I use a liquid seaweed foliar feed to revive stressed plants.  I have no scientific reason for this, but it seems to have magical properties on plants that have had a hammering 

[peapod]

Newshoot thanks!

Youve just reminded me I need to buy some seaweed feed 

[BabbyAnn]

When you say "cut it right back" what do you mean

I've cut mine right back to where the wood is still green and removed all the dead wood.

sorry, yes that's what I meant, thank you peapod   

[woodavon]

All very helpful - brilliant thanks!  Let the pruning begin.  Never heard of the liquid seaweed stuff before but I'll definitely be buying some.

[peapod]

A pleasure BabbyAnn