Peach leaf curl is a problematic fungal disease that affects peach and nectarine trees. It causes leaves to become distorted, red, and swollen before falling off. Fruit production can also be impacted. While peach leaf curl cannot be cured once symptoms occur, it can be effectively prevented with the right spray applied at the right time. This article provides tips on using dormant sprays to control peach leaf curl on backyard trees.
What Causes Peach Leaf Curl?
The fungus Taphrina deformans is responsible for peach leaf curl It overwinters on twigs and buds of peach and nectarine trees During cool, wet spring weather, spores are splashed onto emerging leaves where they germinate and cause infection. Reddened areas appear on developing leaves. As the fungus grows, leaves become thickened and puckered before shriveling up and dropping off trees.
Timing Dormant Sprays for Prevention
While there is no cure for peach leaf curl once symptoms occur, the disease is easily prevented by applying a fungicidal spray during the dormant season. The best times to spray are:
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Late November, just after leaf drop
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Early February, before buds start swelling
Spraying during dormancy allows the fungicide to penetrate buds and kill overwintering fungal spores. This protects newly developing leaves the following spring. For maximum effectiveness, spraying should be done twice – once in late fall and again in midwinter.
Copper Fungicides for Peach Leaf Curl
Copper-based fungicides have traditionally been used to prevent peach leaf curl. However, regulations have led to reduced copper concentrations in products available to home gardeners. The currently available options containing copper ammonium complexes include:
- Liqui-Cop
- Kop-R-Spray
- C-O-C-S WP
These fungicides should be sprayed to heavily coat twigs, branches, and buds. Adding 1% horticultural oil helps improve effectiveness. Always follow label directions for proper mixing and application.
Other Possible Spray Options
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Lime sulfur fungicide sprays were once recommended for peach leaf curl, but most lime sulfur products have been removed from the home garden market.
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Chlorothalonil is a synthetic fungicide that studies suggest may provide some peach leaf curl control when applied in fall and winter. However, chlorothalonil has risks – always follow label safety precautions.
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There is some anecdotal evidence that seaweed extracts like Maxicrop may suppress peach leaf curl symptoms when sprayed on infected leaves in spring, but effectiveness is questionable.
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Bordeaux mixtures (copper sulfate, lime, and water) are effective but can be challenging to work with. They can also discolor surfaces.
Tips for Using Dormant Sprays
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Spray trees thoroughly until dripping for full coverage.
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Avoid spraying right before rain is expected to allow fungicide to dry.
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Use caution when spraying – wear protective gear, avoid drift, and do not apply to water sources.
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Clean spray equipment thoroughly after each use.
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Combining fungicides with oils or other products may increase risks – check labels.
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Rotate fungicide modes of action if spraying in consecutive years.
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Lime sulfur and copper can build up in soil – avoid overuse.
Additional Peach Leaf Curl Prevention Tips
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Rake and remove fallen leaves around trees which may harbor spores.
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Prune trees in late fall to improve air circulation and light penetration.
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Space and train trees to promote fast drying of leaves.
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Water at the base of trees, avoiding wetting foliage.
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Plant resistant varieties like Frost, Muir, Q-1-8, and others if available.
What to Do if Peach Leaf Curl Occurs
If peach leaf curl symptoms still occur despite proper dormant spraying, here are some tips:
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Wait for leaves to drop, then clean up debris which may contain spores.
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Apply fungicide spray(s) next dormant season.
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Avoid overhead watering.
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Improve tree spacing and pruning.
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Consider preventive chlorothalonil spray if copper failed.
While peach leaf curl causes defoliation and decreased fruit production for one season, trees can recover fully once treated effectively. Combining resistant varieties with reliable dormant spraying is the best way to prevent this common disease. Let us know if you have any other tips for managing peach leaf curl in home orchards!
Please note: I did not say “eradication” tips
Here’s what you may have missed on this week’s episodes of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast:
Someone asked Farmer Fred and Debbie Flower how to test soil for nitrogen, and they answer that question in this episode. They discuss the challenges of measuring nitrogen and recommends using NPK tests or more sophisticated soil test kits. They also talk about how to tell if nitrogen levels are right or wrong by looking at how plants react and the signs of too much or too little nitrogen. They suggest adding compost, using cover crops, and fertilizing with organic products to replenish nitrogen in the soil.
In the second part of the show, Farmer Fred talks about how to pick the best soil for a new raised bed. He says not to use garden soil from someone else’s land and suggests mixing compost and worm castings into the soil instead. He also discusses the importance of mulch and pH testing for the soil in raised beds.
- Peach and nectarine trees get peach leaf curl, which is caused by fungi. You can control it by raking up leaves, adding fertilizer, and cutting back fruit trees to make room for more air flow.
- Fungicides can be used to keep diseases from spreading, but they won’t help if the tree already has them.
- Marta McDowell, author of “All the Presidents’ Gardens,” talks to us about what we find out:
- With a long history, the White House gardens have been shaped by the ways that different presidents have taken care of them.
- Some of the presidents who worked in the garden the most were Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and John Quincy Adams.
- Roses and native trees are some of the plants that have been grown in the White House gardens over the years.
How to Treat Leaf Curl in Peach and Nectarine Trees
FAQ
What is the best spray for leaf curl on peach trees?
How do you treat leaf curl in peach trees?
When to spray copper for peach leaf curl?
What spray do you use for leaf curl?
How do I get rid of peach leaf curl?
Peach leaf curl is not difficult to control. A single fungicide (copper or chlorothalonil) application made in the fall after leaves have dropped or in spring before bud swell will control the disease. The spring application must be made before bud swell. If spring applications are made, temperatures must be monitored closely.
Is it too late to spray for peach leaf curl?
It’s too late to spray for peach leaf curl once the leaves have begun to show symptoms of the disease; effective control measures must be taken during the dormant season, between leaf drop and bud break. In my experience, detecting peach leaf curl early is essential for the health of your peach and nectarine trees.
What are peach leaf curl symptoms?
Peach leaf curl symptoms are waffled reddish leaves appearing on the peach tree. Preventive care is required to avoid it. This fungus (Taphrina deformans) is certainly the most fearful attack that peach trees or apricot trees can face, and will often hinder the tree as it tries to produce a normal peach harvest.
Can peach leaf curl kill a peach tree?
Defoliation by peach leaf curl in successive seasons may kill the tree. Infected leaves, which begin appearing in mid-May, are easily distinguished from healthy leaves in that they are puckered and thicker than normal. Deformed areas are red to yellow at first and then turn brown. Eventually, the infected leaves fall from the tree.
What is peach leaf curl disease?
Treatment, identification, and symptoms for Leaf Curl Disease. Peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformans) is a common fungal disease of peaches, ornamental peaches, and nectarines. It has also been found in apricot trees and occasionally in almond trees. The fungus infects leaves, fruits, blossoms, and shoots.
Do peach leaves curl?
While peach leaf curl is serious, there are ways to protect your trees from it. About two weeks after the leaves emerge, they develop yellow or reddish raised areas. They become distorted and puckered as they grow. The raised areas become red or purple. Leaves often fall off of the tree. The leaves that remain will develop a white powder on them.