Bay tree query

[Marge]

I am fortunate to have a lovely 4 year old bay tree in the garden, in a large barrel. It produces lovely leaves which I use in cooking (both dried and fresh), but Brother Of Marge thinks their might be a problem with the leaves.

He says the leaves are too pale and the plant is in need of feeding. Now I am using organic seaweed stuff every week, and I think the plant is OK. Should I be concerned? Are there better/other feeds I should be using?

[pillbug]

Are the new leaves a nice pale green and shiney?- if so in my experience it`s healthy.I do wonder about the feeding,the one I have in a container is 3 yrs,in a smallish pot and I have only fed it once,I suspect there are others with better advice.

[Allan]

Seaweed is rich in micronutrients, not so sure about the basic macronutrients and long term effects. It might be wise to alternate with a more general balanced N:P:K type. If you want to be lazy one dose of Summerlong or Yearlong per season would cut out the chore.
Allan

[Johnboy]

Hi Marge,
How long is it since you stated feeding the plant?
I feel that every week is far too often and suggest you should wait see what effect the feeds are having before you continue.
I have a relative who root prunes one third of her Bay Tree in a half barrel every year. She excavates the soil around one third about a trowels width wide and simply cuts any roots in that area and replenishes with fresh enriched soil.
This seems to work well and the tree grows very well so it seems to like the treatment.
Before rushing into action I should find out what the existing treatment is doing.
To my knowledge her tree is at least 15 years old.
The reason I know this is because it is one I grew and gave it to her as a present.

[Marge]

Thanks for all the info

The leaves are a pale green and shiny, so I think the plant is OK on the whole - that said I will look into the type of, and how often feed used.

Someone else also suggested I change the top third of compost/soil mix in the barrel too.

I shall let you know how I get on (or rather how my friend will as I have a bad back and have to stay away from any strenuous gardening ... not fair )

[vivie veg]

Try this link, lots of phone to compare your plant to.

http://gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_september_3_bay.asp

I always give mine an acid feed. I DON'T KNOW WHY AND CANNOT FIND ANY REFERENCE TO IT NEEDING ACID FEED, but it has survived for 12 years in it's container and never had the top layer of compost replaced.

[Marge]

ta - you guys are a mine of information

[Lyn]

If the pale green of the leaves is sort of "yellowy", then a good dose of Epsom salts will cure it, as it did mine a couple of years ago, which is also growing in a container.
Best,
Lyn

[Marge]

Epsom salts, who'd 'ave thought it! I shall give it a try.

I pruned the bay today (plenty of leaves to use in the kitchen now), and it looks happier already.

[Johnboy]

Hi Marge,
What I find of interest is that Vivianne treats with an acidic compound and Lyn suggests Epsom Salts which is an alkali compound. The thing is I am unable to form a conclusion. Anybody got any ideas?

[Lyn]

Hi Johnboy,
Yes you are right, Epsom salts are alkaline, but I don't think that the pH is the issue here - it is the magnesium in the Epsom salts which is the important factor, as Mg also forms part of the chlorophyll molecule, which as you probably already know gives the "green-ness" to leaves. If the compost is already neutral-acid, then a single watering with an Epson salts solution shouldn't make a great deal of difference to the pH of the compost, but at the same time it will provide a one-off compensation for a shortfall in the plant's nutritional requirements, evidenced by the pale leaves. Does anyone have any other comments?
Lyn

[Johnboy]

Hi Lyn,
I am aware that Epsom Salts and Dolomite Lime are both derived from Magnesite and the effect that they have on a plant.
The point I was trying to make is that Vivianne suggests the complete opposite to you and obviously achieves a similar result as her tree is twelve years old and thriving. My thoughts are that the tree should be treated with a fertilizer high in Nitrogen as a one off treatment and thereafter treated with a balanced fertilizer which should achieve the same result. Thinking about it whilst I type Nitrogen may induce unwanted growth but again a one off treatment should do no harm.
Poor old Marge you must be thoroughly confused by now!

[Lyn]

Hi everybody. I take your point Johnboy - so sorry to add to any confusion! Just reporting what worked for me. Glad to know, anyway, that Marge's tree is a lot happier now, having been pruned. I'm trying to pluck up courage to give mine a prune, but wouldn't know where to begin, and am afraid of damaging it. As it is an evergreen, I suppose that any time of year is O.K.
Lyn

[Marge]

The thick plottens - Brother Of Marge has suggested taking the bay tree out of its barrel and planting it directly in the border

I'm wondering if this is a good idea. It is currently situation in a south facing position and it would simply be a case of 'formalising' this by removing it from the barrel. And it would free up said barrel for tomato growing

[Tony Hague]

Err - Epsom salts (Magnesium sulphate, MgSO4), as the name implies, a salt. It is neither acid or alkali. Or perhaps I've forgotten my A-level chemistry - it was a long time ago.