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What is wrong with my peach trees? #682709

Asked March 04, 2021, 5:01 PM EST

Our peach trees have been showing these signs of disease for about 3 years now. I am new to the property but I don't think there had been been much in the way of spraying or fertilizing. The property uses organic practices. We don't have a problem with deer, we have a livestock guardian dog. The peach trees are all in one row and all show the same signs of disease. They are in a low spot on the property and had some standing water around them in the winter. The twigs start turning black and have those stringy bits on the ends. When the leaves come out, it looks like they have peach leaf curl. Only one of the trees produced fruit last year (just a couple) and the fruits looked fine, although small. We applied a copper fungicide once this dormant season, but the twigs look pretty bad still (we had pruned off all the dead stuff last spring). Are the black and broken twigs part of the leaf curl disease or is it something else? We are doing a more comprehensive spraying program this year with the copper fungicide, lime sulfur, and a neem oil+fish emulsion+kelp combo in the spring, but we are doing it without knowing exactly what is wrong with the trees. Any suggestions?

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Brown rot is a common disease in peaches and the die back your describe is consistent with the symptoms of that disease: https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/peach-prunus-persica-brown-rot

Here's a simplified information about brown rot:
http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/FRUIT/DISEASE/aprbrownrot.html

If you see oozing sap, then you might also have bacterial canker:
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/cherry-prunus-spp-bacterial-canker

And here is information on leaf curl
https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/peach-prunus-persica-leaf-curl

The dormant season application of copper is your best bet. If the flower buds are not yet open, you could try another treatment of copper or lime sulfur for the leaf curl.

I don't recommend the neem oil+fish emulsion+kelp combo in the spring. It may of may not help.

Overall, peaches are very difficult to grow in Western Oregon, especially in a low lying area with standing water. If your efforts this year are successful and you get a decent harvest and the trees look better, then you are on the right track.

If not, I'd consider removing the trees to cut your losses and try growing fruit trees that require less care such as figs and persimmons. You'd probably want to improve your soil drainage my mounding soil in raised beds if you decide to replant.

Weston Miller Replied March 08, 2021, 11:08 AM EST

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