What's eating my bay laurel?

Bay laurel's worst pest is bay sucker, a psyllid that causes thickened, yellowing leaf margins. Scale insects encrust stems and leaves, producing sticky honeydew. Soft scale and brown soft scale are common indoors. Outdoors, horse chestnut scale also attacks. Regular inspection and dormant oil sprays are the primary defence.

Leaf edges curl under, thicken, and turn pale yellow; psyllid nymphs hide in the cupped margins Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly; apply pyrethrin or plant-based insecticide in spring when nymphs hatch

Brown or tan waxy bumps on stems and leaf undersides; sticky honeydew coating; sooty mould develops Scrub off with a soft brush dipped in soapy water; apply horticultural oil in winter; repeat in early summer

Notched leaf margins from adult feeding at night; larvae eat roots causing sudden plant collapse Apply biological control nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to compost in late summer; use neonicotinoid-free granules if allowed