Bay tree

I have a standard Bay tree in an earthenware pot. At the beginning of the spring, it was looking jaded and leaves going yellow and so I repotted it in new soil. I trimmed the rootball so that I could get it back into the pot along with a lot of fresh soil. It has now got all green leaves but they are not the dark glossy green that I would want to see. I rarely water the pot, only doing it if the weather has been dry and the pot looks as though it needs water.

I have a twenty foot tall Bay tree growing in the garden in the same soil. We are on chalk. The big tree is exactly as you would expect a healthy Bay tree to look, in fact I am going to have to lop it a bit soon.

What can I do to improve the poor potted one?

stony

 

. I rarely water the pot, only doing it if the weather has been dry and the pot looks as though it needs water.

What can I do to improve the poor potted one?

stony[/QUOTE]

You have to rememeber just came through a bad winter you have repoted prunded its roots and hardly water it.
Bay tres growing in pots need xtra water/feed and even if it rains it never get the full benefit as the top acts like a umberella.

So to improve water 3 times a week , and next year give it some slow realease fertiliser.

Spruce (the answer was in the question)

 

water once a week during spring and summer, but water 'deep' (water well)

thats what I have been doing to 4 bay trees (2 - lollipop/standards, and 2 pyramid shaped)

all have done well for the past year ... and all are in large pots in full sun

however, one is in 'distress' as of last week, but that is another story ...

(was probably damaged why the owner watering with a can that was used for glyphosate weedkiller)

perhaps it's not too cold or too late to add a bit of fertilizer that has a reasonable nitrogen content .... that may 'green' the leaves

what concerns me though is that when you repotted, you trimmed the roots? .... it's better to plant it in a larger pot where there is space for the roots to develop further .... unless you enjoy bonsai?