I may have killed my girlfriends bay tree, please help me revive it!

[Muppit]

My girlfriend was bought a 5 year old bay tree (about 3ft tall) in Feb, we've kept it in a pot inside as per the instructions on the label but it got in the way one day so I put it outside (just temporarily) and forgot about it! Whoops, we brought it back in and a lot of the leaves had gone brown and I recently started to see some bites taken out of the good leaves! Just tonight I found three beetles on the tree (best match I could find on Google images was leaf beetle / bean leaf beetle). What do we do? The label said don't water it very much, half the leaves are brown, half are half eaten, it's pretty dry, quite hot in our house, I don't know if the beetle have laid eggs (couldn't see any) and my girlfriend is a little upseet and I fear fo my life!!! Any advice would be appreciated!!! Do we prune it right back? do I need to feed it some plant food? Should I rest on my laurels?

[rickee]

Don't have any knowledge of bay trees,but,here's a thread on another site,with a lot of other info on them,and you might use that site to help you. Judging by this thread,bay trees are certainly contentious !http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildl ife-gardening/9507-bay-tree-insect-friendly-2. html

[landscaper2]

A bay tree will be much happier outside anyway. The abrupt change of temperature has probably burnt some of the soft new growth. Tidy it up, feed it and give it a bug spray. Keep compost moist but not overwatered and find a sheltered spot outside for it.

[nonomaybe]

To check if the plant is rescue-able shave of the smallest piece of bark from the stem, if it is freshly green underneath clean it up and get it outside when the frosts are finished.Find it a good, fairly sheltered spot outside away from the wind but close enough to go plucking leaves for your cooking! As it settles outdoors you will find that bugs and stuff will leave it alone as there are easier things for them to eat !!

[Muppit]

Thanks for your help guys! Maybe my girlfriend won't e killing me after all!

[B00]

rofl, can't help but your post made me laugh. I love the idea of you sat there sweating about what your girlfriend might do to you because you've killed her tree.

Heh!