Problems growing Umbellularia Californica / Bay Laurel

[Anonymous]

I noticed on an old thread on growing UmbellulariaCalifornica Bay Laurel. I've planted a number of them in back of my house over the last 2 years and I'm having a hard time getting them going.

The problem occurs where the leaves drop like crazy. The leaves turn yellow and drop, then the tips of the branches start dying back as well. The trees were about 5 feet high when I got them, they are about the same size after two years.I have five trees looking equally unimpressive.

I've tried watering different amounts to get them started..Ithought I might be overwatering so I cut some of them off, butstill the leaves are dropping. I tried to water once ever 3 days, once a week, once a month. In all cases, the trees just look sickly. The slope they are on faces south which I know is causing them to heat up, but the woods directly adjacent to my plantings are filled with wild bay laurels, so I know the soil and conditions should be OK. All of the wild ones are bearing fruit now but the ones I planted aren't..you get theidea.

Does anyone have any ideas what to try?

-Neil</p>

[Anonymous]

I don't have a solution, but I had the same problem with one out of five I planted along my back fence about 5 years agofaces south, full sun in Benicia. I planted them as 15 gal. plants. Four are growing fine 20' high now. One performed as you are describing. I treated them all the same. I treated the soil with benificial nematodes in the event there was something eating the roots. I eventually replaced the problem plant. Its replacement is almost two years old now, hasn't grown much so I'm not sure if I solved the problem. I water them in the summer, 3 gals./2 weeks. </p>

[Anonymous]

I don't have an answer; I just discovered your question, and it is similar to one I have myself. The difference is, I have many mature trees that do the same thing. I recently bought a place in the country, Butte Co., and there are yellow/fallen leaves all over the place with lots of die back. Did you ever get a reasonable response? If so, please pass on what you've learned to me.</p>