Sam, 6 foot Bay trees needed a lot of water to help them establish... If you did not regularly water them then you have a real problem, Try to create a bund area around each tree by hoeing up the soil a couple of inches higher than the surface level and pour a bucket of water into each bund every day even if it rains. Am also not sure why you pruned the trees twice over the winter.

We used to have bay trees, and I am afraid, Sam, that these do not sound happy bunnies. In fact, I would think you have lost them. They do take a GREAT deal of establishing.

I think they are goners too Gattina any 6 foot tree needs regular watering to allow the rootball to grow out into the surrounding soil. Expensive lesson.

We are in a drought Sam, your plants need loads of water, especially 30,of them! Keep watering if you can, you may be able to save some. We re-planted our pear tree last summer and tapped into the soil a piece of drainpipe so we could get water down to the roots, we filled that up two or three times a week and it has paid off, the tree is full of blossom now but we are still watering too.

I am sorry to say this but are you sure they are bay trees, Laurus nobilis, as at 6 feet high they would cost a fortune? Could they be Prunus lusitanica or some other shrub. Bay trees are not noted for their hardiness in an open aspect and unless they were in a very protected situation you would be taking a great gamble.