Hi Rachelle,

Thank you for reaching out to the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline with your question about your peach tree.

It sounds as though you have been taking good care of your peach tree, and because of this, I would suggest that you try again. Remember last year we had a very rainy season and all it takes is a couple of cool damp rainy days for the fungus to grow. This year, even though you sprayed, I wonder if the buds started to build earlier than usual because of the winter warm spells and rain we received. I found a link from the University of California, (which isn’t from our climate) but where the author goes into some specific detail. They suggest spraying the trees twice and the first time should be in the fall after Thanksgiving. They also say that adding 1% horticultural oil will also help to kill other pests. I bet it also helps the fungicide to stick to the tree better. Any pruning should be done before spraying, and the entire tree should be drenched. https://acmg.ucanr.edu/Over_the_Fence/Peach_Leaf_Curl__No_Cause_for_Concern_If_You_Know_How_to_Treat_It/ A couple more suggestions are: if you water, don’t water the leaves and keep the area under the tree free of grasses and debris to help improve air flow. Bury, burn or put diseased and pruned branches and fruit in the municipal trash so the material isn’t around to infect anything.

Here is a helpful link that Ann Hazlerigg put out about Peach Leaf Curl in VT: https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/UVM-Extension-Cultivating-Healthy-Communities/PDC_POWpeachleafcurl.pdf, and here is another link from the University of Michigan that talks about stone fruit trees in more detail and how to take care of them: https://www.canr.msu.edu/ipm/agriculture/fruit/stone-fruit-ipm-for-beginners. This second link will help as you look around for other fruit trees to plant. As you think about planting other fruit trees, you should have your soil tested so you can prepare the best growing conditions so the trees can thrive UVM Soil Testing Link. The trees should be disease resistant cultivars and when you buy them, also, try to see if you can get information about where they have been successfully grown in Vermont. I have heard of people successfully growing peaches, pears, cherries and plums. 

In your specific situation, Ann Hazlerigg says, "I would not give up although it may become more of an issue with the warmer winters associated with climate change. Hopefully, next winter will be colder and you will not have the issue. Some years will just be worse than others. Be sure to clean up all the foliage and drops at the end of the season."

Thank you for your question and feel free to write back if you have any more questions. Sincerely,