Help with bay trees

[MinniesAndMickeysNeedCounting]

We moved house and inherited 2 established bay trees, they were in an odd position in the middle of a lawn so we decided to try to move them, TRY being the operative word, maintained as much root as possible but they haven't fared well, leaves have turned completely brown. I'm hoping they're salvagable and someone can tell me how.
They're rather an eyesore at the moment and dont want to keep if they're beyond reprieve but equally dont want to pull them out if they can survive.
I was hoping I could remove all foliage the plant might direct its energy to something else and it may resprout.
Image of poor tree attached

You can try it, but that looks as dead as the dodo.

Thanks wow 😂

It's in shock. Cut it back but if it does grow back, it will take a while. Summer is not a good time to move established plants.

Thanks idril, we moved them about 4 months ago, they looked fine to begin with, I assume because they still had energy stored within the root structures, if I cut back will it give the roots time to redevelop, sorry I'm not sure on the correct terms for these things

Perhaps more like 3 months, because the ground was not hard and likely to frost

Try snapping off a branch. If it’s still bendy then there may be life in it. I’ve just had two trees lose all their leaves last summer but just start to recover.

Remove all the dead leaves as any new growth won’t get any light. Unless you need the space then I’d leave it and see. You can always fill it with fairy lights while you wait!

peajotter Thank you, I'll snap/bend a branch tomorrow. When you say remove all leaves, do you mean remove the whole top or cut it back so I have multiple small branches without foliage? Thanks

I was hoping I could remove all foliage the plant might direct its energy to something else and it may resprout. It's already redirected its energy .

How much were you watering them? In the drought we were having in March/April, they would have needed a bucket each every day.

I got rid of a 8ft high bay tree several years ago, by cutting it back to base, then cutting back any new shoots till I was absolutely sure it was gone. It's now about 3 ft high and two foot wide. They have a strong will to live.

mere that sound encouraging if you can't get rid of yours.
I would say I watered it well put possibly not for long enough.
I've cut them back today, so I shall wait and see.
Thanks for everyones help.

Wow.
I’d be amazed if that was still alive tbh!
Was it green when you cut it back earlier or brown?
If it’s brown inside it’s definately dead

What do you mean by brown inside please? On one all the leaves throughout were brown, on the other there was still some greenery towards the centre, when cut back the wood appears fresh and bright in colour rather than brown and brittle. They're cut back now and time will tell, if they don't make it so be it.

Bay trees do need lots of sun and ventilation. Their new location up against a wall may be too shady and closed in.

I mean when you look at the cut area of the branch that you’ve sliced off is it dry, brown and brittle or is it fresh and green inside?
If it’s green the plant is alive and may recover.

You can also carefully scratch a bit of the bark off lower down the plant and check that way, again, if it’s fresh and green underneath the plant is alive.

Bay trees do need lots of sun and ventilation. Do they? Don't anybody tell mine that

That’s what mine has and it is very happy.

It doesn't look like dead wood inside, its bright, kind of a creamy colour with a very slight hint of green at the edges, not brittle or brown.
If they were to survive, how long until you'd expect to see something happening and thank you to everyone I've appreciated the advice

It doesn't look like dead wood inside, its bright, kind of a creamy colour with a very slight hint of green at the edges, That's good. Probably a few weeks until you start to see tiny green shoots.

MereDintofPandiculation

Thank you