How to control Peach Leaf Curl

Taphrina deformans

What is Leaf Curl?

Leaf Curl is a fungal disease which overwinters in the crevices of the tree bark and around the buds. For most stone fruits, one or two well timed applications of copper-based fungicide should control the disease. The timing of the fungicide spray varies with differing stone fruit varieties.

For apricots, spraying at 90% leaf fall and again as buds show pink is recommended.

For peaches, spraying is best in late winter when buds first swell (bud scales start to loosen).

Symptoms

Leaves are curled, change colours and are severely deformed. Leaves finally turn brown, shrivel and drop from the tree. Fruits may drop early, or turn reddish-purple with warty growths on the outer surface.

How to protect your plants

Spray Nectarines, Peaches, Plums, Almonds with Yates Liquid Copper Fungicide Concentrate in late winter when buds just start to swell.

Where leaf curl is likely to be a severe problem based on previous experience, spray first in autumn at leaf fall and then at the first sign of bud swell and repeat one week later.

Good leaf coverage is essential.