Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Why is my Peach tree is dying (see photos)

young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
edited May 2023 in Problem solving
The photos were taken within 10 minutes of cutting these off of my peach tree this afternoon. I cut them off in an attempt to stimulate new growth but I doubt the tree will survive.

It has been growing from 2019 in pots/containers. I put it in the ground  in 16th January  2022 and it was growing fine. In spring this year I noticed that the leaves were all  shriveled up. The junction of some of the branches seem black and tar like,  and this can be seen in the photo(s).

Does anyone recognise the symptons/cause ?

I will get some photos of the tree and will be back in less than 20 minutes.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    Those leaves look as if they’ve got a bad case of Peach Leaf Curl
    disease 
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/peach-leaf-curl

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/solve-problems/peach-leaf-curl/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543

  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    @Dovefromabove

    What do you make of the black tar like areas? They look burnt don't they.

  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    My peach tree gets peach leaf curl every year, since I moved it and haven't got around to putting a new winter cover up (see below). I don't actually think it's a good idea to remove it because it doesn't seem to prevent it, and it weakens the tree to do so.
    The accepted wisdom is to prevent rain getting into the buds in the first quarter of the year, by putting a shelter over it, which, in my experience, does really help.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I agree. Peach Leaf Curl. Also agree, keep the rain off the tree as much as possible. It does eventually kill the tree if not managed regularly. I lost a wonderful Peregrine peach tree to the dreaded curl disease.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    I have 4 plum trees that are also growing in the back garden. I don't want the peach tree to cause any issues for them. I don't know what the risk level is, if any?
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    I agree, peach leaf curl.  I have a peach tree growing in the ground in  my Sussex garden.  It's probably about 10 years old, given to me by a friend about five years ago.  Every year it gets peach leaf curl early in the season (April and May) and then it seems to outgrow it.  After that new growth is strong and healthy.  Some years it fruits, some it doesn't but that's pretty much down to how much frost there has been at blossom time. This year looks hopeful for some fruit with some having set.  It looks pretty bad right now but I expect it to outgrow the peach leaf curl.  This is just my experience; I am not a peach expert.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    @Redwing
    It is fortunate that Peach trees apparently overcome this disease to some extent. It is unfortunate that at times it will return. 
    Have you tried pruning it when the peach curl appears, just as an experiment to see what happens the following year?

    I wonder how the commercial growers deal with the issues.

  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    young codger said:
    @Redwing

    Have you tried pruning it when the peach curl appears, just as an experiment to see what happens the following year?



    If I did that I'd loose all the fruit.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • young codgeryoung codger Posts: 543
    Sometimes we have to sacrifice something  to gain something.
Sign In or Register to comment.