Bay Tree Help

GardenSpurs

hi, I would welcome some advice on a bay Tree.

As you will see from the picture the shrub is growing out of the ground , and whilst there is some foliage it doesn't look to happy. 

Should i I dig around it and try and ease it back in the ground and cover with compost.

many thanks

Borderline

It looks like a mature shrub already and recovering from being pruned back hard. You need to allow it time to start re-growing. Any branches that don't regrow, prune them back even more. You can lay a fresh layer of compost or mulch, but generally, the root system is so settled, it should have a lot of reserve there.

If it has not thrived there in the past, it's likely due to too much shade. It may be best to grow it somewhere with a bit more light and sun.

GardenSpurs

Many Thanks @Borderline
It was previously in a different garden and has been replanted there by the current owners.  I was thinking perhaps it was not planted deep enough

Borderline

Depends on how long it has been growing in its current location. If it's been there for more than a year, and the leaves on the left are quite recent, things are looking good, it just needs a bit more time to recover. Possible it has not been planted deep enough, but the branches look healthy and looking like it is recovering from a recent prune. I think the most important thing right now is to keep up with the watering.