Peach tree problem - Ask Extension
Hi. I just planted this tree this spring to replace one that had been there for 2 years and died (I sprayed with sevin spray last year for beetles)Â...
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Peach tree problem #191087
Asked June 14, 2014, 8:02 AM EDT
Hi. I just planted this tree this spring to replace one that had been there for 2 years and died (I sprayed with sevin spray last year for beetles) This tree was fully leafed out ( and there is a second about 10 yds away that looks great), but I noticed the leaves were falling off and the tips are black and very bendable. Any ideas?
Northumberland County Virginia
Expert Response
Hi there! Thanks for attaching some pictures with your question! It is difficult to say for sure what is going on with the tree, but here are some thoughts:
1. You mentioned there was another tree in the same location that died. Did you plant this new tree in the same location? Did you remove the stump and roots of the last tree? Also, did you take a soil sample? Peach tree short life is a complex condition caused by a number of stresses including nematodes, bacteria, environmental factors and horticultural techniques. I would advise not to plant in the same exact hole where an old peach died since nematodes persist in the soil where tree roots remain. Also, soil pH may be incorrect for proper growth of the tree. You can check this with a soil sample through Virginia Tech. Boxes and forms are available at your local Extension Office in Heathsville (cost is $10, but well worth it!).
2. When did you plant in the spring? Have you been keeping the tree well-watered? This spring has been rather wet, but as of late we have had some hot, dry weather. A newly transplanted tree needs to be kept well-watered in the first year or two after transplanting. Sometimes transplant shock can look like this.
3. Another potential cause is the fungal disease Brown Rot. This is a very common disease on peaches and although the symptoms are most commonly recognized on ripening fruit, the pathogen can also cause blossom and twig blight. Typically with twig blight the leaves hang onto the stem for a period of time before falling off.
My recommendation would be to prune out the blackened stems, being sure to sterilize your pruners with bleach or another disinfectant between cuts in case this is caused by a bacterial disease. While you are pruning out these sections, take a cutting that includes both blackened and healthy tissue to your local Extension office to be sent off for analysis at the Plant Disease Clinic at Virginia Tech. Then, we will be able to get a diagnosis if it is caused by a disease.
Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions.
1. You mentioned there was another tree in the same location that died. Did you plant this new tree in the same location? Did you remove the stump and roots of the last tree? Also, did you take a soil sample? Peach tree short life is a complex condition caused by a number of stresses including nematodes, bacteria, environmental factors and horticultural techniques. I would advise not to plant in the same exact hole where an old peach died since nematodes persist in the soil where tree roots remain. Also, soil pH may be incorrect for proper growth of the tree. You can check this with a soil sample through Virginia Tech. Boxes and forms are available at your local Extension Office in Heathsville (cost is $10, but well worth it!).
2. When did you plant in the spring? Have you been keeping the tree well-watered? This spring has been rather wet, but as of late we have had some hot, dry weather. A newly transplanted tree needs to be kept well-watered in the first year or two after transplanting. Sometimes transplant shock can look like this.
3. Another potential cause is the fungal disease Brown Rot. This is a very common disease on peaches and although the symptoms are most commonly recognized on ripening fruit, the pathogen can also cause blossom and twig blight. Typically with twig blight the leaves hang onto the stem for a period of time before falling off.
My recommendation would be to prune out the blackened stems, being sure to sterilize your pruners with bleach or another disinfectant between cuts in case this is caused by a bacterial disease. While you are pruning out these sections, take a cutting that includes both blackened and healthy tissue to your local Extension office to be sent off for analysis at the Plant Disease Clinic at Virginia Tech. Then, we will be able to get a diagnosis if it is caused by a disease.
Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions.
