[Angelah]

My in-laws have had two lovely standard bay trees, one each side of their front door for quite a number of years, but they've recently been neglected, so they've decided to get rid of them and replace them with new ones.

I'm sure they can be rescued and revived, so am having them, and am hoping someone on here might be able to help!!! I will probably plant them into the ground - or would they be best repotted - albeit into bigger pots? Can I just dig in/repot them in normal compost or do they need anything special? What about feeding them? They've got a bit leggy and off colour - pos from lack of water? Or are they prone to anything more sinister?!

[DD.]

You could try cuttings.

A few weeks ago took six off ours, all have rooted.

[peapod]

If you want to repot,do it in a bigger pot with crocks at the bottom and in normal multi purpose compost - dont feed them - they like a quite nutrient free soil, but give them lots of water. If you want them in the ground remember they like free draining soil, and add a handful of chicken pellets in the hole, and water lots (unless like me you can rely on the deluge over the next few days) They also like full sun, arent too great with wind, and can need protection from frost

I bought two dying ones at different times and rescued them, they look great in containers now, one exactly like mine is on sale at local garden centre for £50!! And its only a diddy one,so for sure the best 'hospital corner' plants I ever bought!
Paula

[lincspoacher]

If you dig up a Bay tree and replant it , it will sulk for about two years. If the target site is more alkaline, it'll sulk for even longer. You can also expect it to drop all its leaves and then do nothing until next February.

Bay Trees seriously do NOT like being moved!!!!

[peapod]

Gotta say Lincs, I have heard this before, and Ive repotted 3 now. That didnt happen to me, they only flourished after Id done it.    Mind you, the two were so far gone that I wouldnt have been surprised if they had sulked and would have assumed they died.

I didnt touch the rootball i.e. teasing out etc, and maybe that helped?

Paula

[agapanthus]

Munty dug up (not too carefully I might add) 2 bay trees from my garden when I lived in Ipswich. Moved to scotland with them in black bin liners and forgot about them for a few weeks. Put them in large pots with john innees no 1 and they are doing fine......loads of new growth!  Try it .....you've nothing to lose!

[lincspoacher]

Gotta say Lincs, I have heard this before, and Ive repotted 3 now. That didnt happen to me, they only flourished after Id done it.    Mind you, the two were so far gone that I wouldnt have been surprised if they had sulked and would have assumed they died.

I didnt touch the rootball i.e. teasing out etc, and maybe that helped?

Paula

Oh most definitely. The best way to move them is to dig around the root ball using Cornish or Welsh miners, and then use two cranes to lift the 20 tonnes 10 foot diameter lump. It def wont sulk then. If you get any closer to the roots it will.

Ive personally seen them sulk, so i guess you were lucky. But then, nothing is certain in horticulture.

[muddifoot]

everyone says bays like total sun, but I have three and the one that sits in the shady area of my garden is fantastic.  But the ones in full sun are always a hassle, with leaves turning yellow and falling off on a regular basis.   What I do find interesting is that some of you say they don't like to much feeding-  maybe thats my big mistake.

thanks for all the info.

[purplebean]

Hubby repotted ours and it didn't sulk at all

[Angelah]

Some encouraging comments - many thanks. But am now in two minds as to whether I plant them in pots or the ground!!!!

[agapanthus]

Personally I would put them in the ground if I had the space

[GreenOwl]

We have a bay tree in the ground.... its a pest.  Trim it and it just grows more.  Hubby cut 8 foot off it 2 weeks ago (it was starting to menace the telephone line.)  Its already got new growth showing.  Keep them in pots and restrict their growth - otherwise they take over and turn into big trees.  Can't comment on moving them, it was there when we moved her but they do sprout from old wood.  I believe you can use them for topiary.

[lincspoacher]

We have a bay tree in the ground.... its a pest.  Trim it and it just grows more.  Hubby cut 8 foot off it 2 weeks ago (it was starting to menace the telephone line.)  Its already got new growth showing.  Keep them in pots and restrict their growth - otherwise they take over and turn into big trees.  Can't comment on moving them, it was there when we moved her but they do sprout from old wood.  I believe you can use them for topiary.

If you have any sense you use them for cooking...........

[Angelah]

Thanks for the advice. Well we finally got them in. Planted them in the ground rather than pots. One seems to have picked up really well, but I think the other might not make it. Am keeping my fingers crossed.

Would it make any difference if I pruned it? Or should I leave it and just wait?

[Gwiz]

I think I'd just leave it for the moment. plenty of water and maybe a liquid feed of some sort.