Is My Bay Tree Dying? Why Your Bay Tree Leaves Are Turning Brown!

I was given a bay laurel tree – also known as a laurus nobilis – in a terracotta pot by a friend who was leaving the country and wanted it to go to a good home and be cared for.

All was going well until my other half moved the bay tree from it’s position in full sunshine where I’d set it up, to a spot slightly further along the terrace – under a hanging basket of jasmine.

Three weeks later I noticed that the leaves on my bay tree were turning brown. Disaster! 

The thing is, for the life of me I couldn’t work out why my bay tree leaves were turning brown when I had done nothing different, and the only change was it’s location. Was my bay tree dying?

Is My Bay Tree Dying?

My first thought was that my bay tree was dying, that I had, despite all the odds “done it in”. Which didn’t make sense as I am quite green fingered and pay attention to the needs of all my plants.

I’d had the bay leaf plant for several months, so it didn’t make sense that it was now dying.

We hadn’t had any sudden cold spells, the weather has been consistent in terms of temperature and watering wasn’t an issue as we were actually having a bit of a drought and had been ordered to limit any water usage outside of essential use by the government.

But as the third week turned into the fourth, and the bay laurel plant turned from fully green leaves in early spring to a fair amount of yellow leaves and then to a high proportion of brown leaves through late spring, I started panicking.

Why Are My Bay Tree Leaves Turning Brown?

It was while sitting and watching my other half watering some of the plants that he had added to the terrace that I realised what was happening.

One of the jasmine plants was hanging from the trellis directly above the bay tree and as he poured almost a litre of water into the jasmine hanging basket, it flowed through the soil and directly onto the bay tree, soaking the yellowing leaves and no doubt the tree roots in the soil too.

And while I commend him for taking the time to water the jasmine, he was doing this on a daily basis to prevent them from drying out while in full bloom, and this was clearly having a direct impact on the waterlogged bay tree below.

1. Lack Of Water Or Too Much Water?

While some online resources will tell you that your bay tree leaves turning brown is likely due to a lack of water, in this instance, it was clear that the problem was too much water.

And yes it’s true that bay trees do need to be watered regularly, especially during the summer months when the weather is hot and dry, but your bay tree needs only enough water so that the soil stays moist and not soggy.

Remember, a bay tree will not wilt when drying out, the leaves will turn brown and fall off, and this can be a sign that the tree may well be suffering from drought stress.

If you think your bay tree is stressed from lack of water, try to give it a deep watering once a week. Make sure the soil is moist but again, it should not be soggy.

You can also try misting the leaves with a spray bottle to help increase the humidity around the tree. And raise the pot up so that natural drainage can happen. I put mine on two bricks to provide space for drainage from the pot itself.

2. Temperature

If you live in an area with cold winters, your bay tree may also be suffering from frost damage. When this occurs, the leaves on your bay tree can turn brown and drop off if is is exposed to temperatures below freezing.

If you think your bay tree is suffering from frost damage, try to protect it from the cold by wrapping it in burlap or placing it in a sheltered location and when spring arrives make sure to prune the frosted shoots.

3. Attacked By Scale Insects

The final possibility for your bay tree’s brown leaves may be that they’re being attacked. When bay trees are starved of water and dry they can succumb to attack from scale insects which will need removing.

Best Conditions For Growing A Bay Tree

When it comes to growing your own bay tree, there are some things that you should consider to make sure it survives and thrives.

Soil For Bay Trees

Any type of soil is acceptable for your new bay tree, as long as it drains properly and the bay tree receives enough light. Direct sunlight is best, as the Laurus Nobilis is a native mediterranean plant which can withstand summer droughts, but they can also thrive in areas of light shade too.

Optimal Temperature For Bay Trees

Being a plant native to the med, the optimal temperature for a bay tree is warm, warm, warm.

That said, in non-mediterranean climates, bay trees can also thrive, as long as they are in the right position and well cared for.

While we don’t want your bay tree to frequently be exposed to temperatures below 32ºF / -5ºC, if they are quite sheltered and close to a heated structure like your home, they will generally survive for a short while.

Where To Position Your Bay Tree

We’ve already mentioned that the bay tree will need to be positioned in either direct sunlight or partial shade, but it’s important to also note that your bay tree will not do too well in windy positions.

Whether its a cold chilly wind in the winter months or a hot, scorching breeze in the summer months, no bay laurel tree will thrive in this position, so make sure to provide some shelter to keep it going for many years!

Finally, if your bay trees leaves have started to turn brown – or even fall off when you touch them – carefully prune them away, and try to maintain the position, temperature and watering schedule that best suited it.

I’ve pruned the dry leaves away, moved my bay tree back to it’s original slightly sheltered position and already it looks more like its old self.

And then, make use of those lovely bay leaves in your cooking!