3rd and Final Attempt at saving the Bay

I am really struggling with the precious little Bay Leaf tree. It was in a pot and after a while the leaves started going brown and falling off. The stem then turned black from top down. I repotted it with lots of bonemeal and compost/potting soil and found that there were grubs attacking the roots (those fat white worms with yellow heads!). The bay did not recover, but I could not accept that it was dead so, this weekend, I have now replanted it in the ground (where the dead conifer was, next to the olive trees). I know it is probably a lost cause (no sign of green in the stem at all!), but I am hoping for a miracle! Oh, well, will have to wait and see! In meanwhile, I'm trying to grow an avocado tree from a pit, and if I succeed will plant it there if bay dies.