"peter123" wrote in message
s.com...
Hi,

I am having a great deal of difficulty in tracking down a problem with
my Bay Tree.

We originally had two Bay Trees, the first one died last year with this
problem and now it's spread to the other one.

These are the symptoms:

a. Sticky Leaves
b. Leaves go from normal green, to a light green and finally to a dried
up golden brown and fall off.
c. Occassionally the leaves go black at the tips

I have inspected all the leaves and there is no signs of any insects
big or small.

There is also no sign of any "soot".

Please help!

Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

HTH

Dave R

In message , David W.E.
Roberts writes

"peter123" wrote in message
ws.com...
Hi,

I am having a great deal of difficulty in tracking down a problem with
my Bay Tree.

We originally had two Bay Trees, the first one died last year with this
problem and now it's spread to the other one.

These are the symptoms:

a. Sticky Leaves
b. Leaves go from normal green, to a light green and finally to a dried
up golden brown and fall off.
c. Occassionally the leaves go black at the tips

I have inspected all the leaves and there is no signs of any insects
big or small.

There is also no sign of any "soot".

Please help!

Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.
--
Christine Boulby National Collection of Diascia
Northumberland
email:
www.coniston.demon.co.uk

In message , David W.E.
Roberts writes

"peter123" wrote in message
ws.com...
Hi,

I am having a great deal of difficulty in tracking down a problem with
my Bay Tree.

We originally had two Bay Trees, the first one died last year with this
problem and now it's spread to the other one.

These are the symptoms:

a. Sticky Leaves
b. Leaves go from normal green, to a light green and finally to a dried
up golden brown and fall off.
c. Occassionally the leaves go black at the tips

I have inspected all the leaves and there is no signs of any insects
big or small.

There is also no sign of any "soot".

Please help!

Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.
--
Christine Boulby National Collection of Diascia
Northumberland
email:
www.coniston.demon.co.uk

Hi,

Thanks for all the advice here.

The plant is potted (it's about 2.5 foot tall) and has been outdoors throughout the summer and most of autumn.

When the weather started getting bad (October), I brought the plant inside.

The first Bay plant had this problem when it was outside.

The second Bay plant was very healthy when it was brought in, but has deteriated rapidly over the last month.

I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm) marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger (see picture).

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be able to scrape them all off.

The problem has become so serious (and please bear in mind I'm a complete novice), that I am considering removing all the leaves and seeing if it will grow again from the root (this is what I have read about Bay Trees)....is this sensible?

You are absolutely right about over watering, so I've been quite careful here. The advice I read (and followed), was that you water the plant during winter when the compost feels dry to touch...maybe this wasn't right?

Thanks for all your advice.

"Chris Boulby" wrote in message
...
snip
Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb
to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.

Agreed.

However it seems unlikely (from my experience) that a scale infestation
which is not immediately obvious could be having such a drastic effect on
the tree.

I am therefore suggesting that the presence of scale insects could be a 'red
herring' and the cause of the serious problems could lie elswhere.

The major damage to my small collection of bay trees in pots have been from
vine weevil (one tree), and forgetting to water in the summer (an offshoot
which had been repotted this year).

Although a couple have had major scale insect infestations this has not
shown any sign of reducing their vigour much, let alone killing them off.

I note from a subsequent post bt the OP that they have been brought in for
the winter.

IMHO this is more likely to cause problems - at least in mild Suffolk my
bays stay out all year round (as do the trees which are planted in the soil,
obviously). They are a remarkably hardy tree under most circumstances,
although slow growing.

Another benefit of leaving the trees out in the winter is that frost should
kill off most of the scale insects.

So the tree may have a scale infestation, but this shouldn't kill it off.

Cheers

Dave R

"Chris Boulby" wrote in message
...
snip
Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb
to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.

Agreed.

However it seems unlikely (from my experience) that a scale infestation
which is not immediately obvious could be having such a drastic effect on
the tree.

I am therefore suggesting that the presence of scale insects could be a 'red
herring' and the cause of the serious problems could lie elswhere.

The major damage to my small collection of bay trees in pots have been from
vine weevil (one tree), and forgetting to water in the summer (an offshoot
which had been repotted this year).

Although a couple have had major scale insect infestations this has not
shown any sign of reducing their vigour much, let alone killing them off.

I note from a subsequent post bt the OP that they have been brought in for
the winter.

IMHO this is more likely to cause problems - at least in mild Suffolk my
bays stay out all year round (as do the trees which are planted in the soil,
obviously). They are a remarkably hardy tree under most circumstances,
although slow growing.

Another benefit of leaving the trees out in the winter is that frost should
kill off most of the scale insects.

So the tree may have a scale infestation, but this shouldn't kill it off.

Cheers

Dave R

"Chris Boulby" wrote in message
...
snip
Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb
to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.

Agreed.

However it seems unlikely (from my experience) that a scale infestation
which is not immediately obvious could be having such a drastic effect on
the tree.

I am therefore suggesting that the presence of scale insects could be a 'red
herring' and the cause of the serious problems could lie elswhere.

The major damage to my small collection of bay trees in pots have been from
vine weevil (one tree), and forgetting to water in the summer (an offshoot
which had been repotted this year).

Although a couple have had major scale insect infestations this has not
shown any sign of reducing their vigour much, let alone killing them off.

I note from a subsequent post bt the OP that they have been brought in for
the winter.

IMHO this is more likely to cause problems - at least in mild Suffolk my
bays stay out all year round (as do the trees which are planted in the soil,
obviously). They are a remarkably hardy tree under most circumstances,
although slow growing.

Another benefit of leaving the trees out in the winter is that frost should
kill off most of the scale insects.

So the tree may have a scale infestation, but this shouldn't kill it off.

Cheers

Dave R

"Chris Boulby" wrote in message
...
snip
Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb
to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.

Agreed.

However it seems unlikely (from my experience) that a scale infestation
which is not immediately obvious could be having such a drastic effect on
the tree.

I am therefore suggesting that the presence of scale insects could be a 'red
herring' and the cause of the serious problems could lie elswhere.

The major damage to my small collection of bay trees in pots have been from
vine weevil (one tree), and forgetting to water in the summer (an offshoot
which had been repotted this year).

Although a couple have had major scale insect infestations this has not
shown any sign of reducing their vigour much, let alone killing them off.

I note from a subsequent post bt the OP that they have been brought in for
the winter.

IMHO this is more likely to cause problems - at least in mild Suffolk my
bays stay out all year round (as do the trees which are planted in the soil,
obviously). They are a remarkably hardy tree under most circumstances,
although slow growing.

Another benefit of leaving the trees out in the winter is that frost should
kill off most of the scale insects.

So the tree may have a scale infestation, but this shouldn't kill it off.

Cheers

Dave R

"Chris Boulby" wrote in message
...
snip
Apart from the scale insects, especially if pot grown, they can succumb
to
vine weevil.

I guess you would have to remove the plant from the pot (assuming potted)
and examine the roots.

If there aren't any, then this is probably your problem :-(

If the roots are healthy then repot and look for 'sucking' pests.

However scale insect should not kill a bay - bad feeding/watering is the
thing that normally kills them.

Vine weevils don't create sooty, or sticky deposits on the leaves. The
symptoms suggest scale.

Agreed.

However it seems unlikely (from my experience) that a scale infestation
which is not immediately obvious could be having such a drastic effect on
the tree.

I am therefore suggesting that the presence of scale insects could be a 'red
herring' and the cause of the serious problems could lie elswhere.

The major damage to my small collection of bay trees in pots have been from
vine weevil (one tree), and forgetting to water in the summer (an offshoot
which had been repotted this year).

Although a couple have had major scale insect infestations this has not
shown any sign of reducing their vigour much, let alone killing them off.

I note from a subsequent post bt the OP that they have been brought in for
the winter.

IMHO this is more likely to cause problems - at least in mild Suffolk my
bays stay out all year round (as do the trees which are planted in the soil,
obviously). They are a remarkably hardy tree under most circumstances,
although slow growing.

Another benefit of leaving the trees out in the winter is that frost should
kill off most of the scale insects.

So the tree may have a scale infestation, but this shouldn't kill it off.

Cheers

Dave R

In article m,
peter123 writes
peter123 wrote:
*Hi,


I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

Yes. Definitely scale insect. Good pic!

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

The problem has become so serious (and please bear in mind I'm a
complete novice), that I am considering removing all the leaves and
seeing if it will grow again from the root (this is what I have read
about Bay Trees)....is this sensible?

Try a compromise - decide on a number - if leaf has more than that
number of scale, pick it off, otherwise, remove the scale.
You'll also find scale insect on the stems, so check those too.


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

In article m,
peter123 writes
peter123 wrote:
*Hi,


I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

Yes. Definitely scale insect. Good pic!

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

The problem has become so serious (and please bear in mind I'm a
complete novice), that I am considering removing all the leaves and
seeing if it will grow again from the root (this is what I have read
about Bay Trees)....is this sensible?

Try a compromise - decide on a number - if leaf has more than that
number of scale, pick it off, otherwise, remove the scale.
You'll also find scale insect on the stems, so check those too.


--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

peter123 wrote:

peter123 wrote:

I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

Nice picture of soft scale - wish I'd seen that before I posted my first answer.
I think everbody else has covered the treatment.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

peter123 wrote:

peter123 wrote:

I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

Nice picture of soft scale - wish I'd seen that before I posted my first answer.
I think everbody else has covered the treatment.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

peter123 wrote:

peter123 wrote:

I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

Nice picture of soft scale - wish I'd seen that before I posted my first answer.
I think everbody else has covered the treatment.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

"Rod" wrote in message
...
peter123 wrote:

peter123 wrote:

I've had another look at the leaves and you're right, I can see
something on the underside....they appear to be small brown (1mmx2mm)
marks which run up the middle of the leaf...so I think you're
right....the brown marks also come off if I scrape them with my finger
(see picture).

The problem is that this is on every leaf and there's no way I will be
able to scrape them all off.

Nice picture of soft scale - wish I'd seen that before I posted my first
answer.
I think everbody else has covered the treatment.
--
Rod
http://website.lineone.net/%7Erodcraddock/index.html
My email address needs weeding.

Would it be easier at this time of year, to just remove all the leaves. It
should be dormant at the moment and getting ready to produce new growth soon
anyway.

--
Martin & Anna Sykes
( Remove x's when replying )
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~sykesm