My sick peach tree. - Ask Extension
My peach tree has something in the leaves. please see the attachment. This is an organic tree, and I would like to find an organic solution.
Knowledgebase
My sick peach tree. #249210
Asked June 02, 2015, 10:24 PM EDT
My peach tree has something in the leaves. please see the attachment. This is an organic tree, and I would like to find an organic solution.
District of Columbia County District of Columbia
Expert Response
The leaf distortion is caused by a fungal disease known as peach leaf curl. It causes leaves to fall (serious defoliation), and fruit loss.
The spores of this fungus overwinter on the twigs. If you have not had this problem before and the affected leaves are few, you may want to pull off those leaves right now and dispose of them off the premises. Occurrence of this disease is very weather related--much higher in years with cool wet springs.
You will need to spray your tree in the future to control peach leaf curl, but spraying must be done when the plant id dormant--before bloom occurs in early spring before buds begin to swell or after leaf fall in late fall. (Most people choose early spring.) After buds open, no fungicide can control this disease.
Spray with lime sulfur, copper Bordeaux , fixed copper (Kop-R-Spray) or a spray containing chlorothalonil. However, the fruit of trees sprayed with chlorothalonil cannot be eaten. Read all labels carefully before application.
ECN
The spores of this fungus overwinter on the twigs. If you have not had this problem before and the affected leaves are few, you may want to pull off those leaves right now and dispose of them off the premises. Occurrence of this disease is very weather related--much higher in years with cool wet springs.
You will need to spray your tree in the future to control peach leaf curl, but spraying must be done when the plant id dormant--before bloom occurs in early spring before buds begin to swell or after leaf fall in late fall. (Most people choose early spring.) After buds open, no fungicide can control this disease.
Spray with lime sulfur, copper Bordeaux , fixed copper (Kop-R-Spray) or a spray containing chlorothalonil. However, the fruit of trees sprayed with chlorothalonil cannot be eaten. Read all labels carefully before application.
ECN
