Leaf Curl | Peach Trees and other plants.

Leaf Curl on a Peach Tree

Leaf curl is a general term for the curling of plant leaves, caused by pest, disease or chemical means. Peach leaf curl is a very common example - with peach leaves becoming curled and distorted due to fungal disease or sometimes pest attacks. In this case, prevention is always better than 'trying to' cure! Spraying with a copper fungicide prior to leaf break helps.

Peach and Prunus Tree leaf curl is normally accompanied with blistering of the leaf as well.

Potatoes are also prone to leaf roll due to virus attack. Aphids (greenfly, blackfly), can also cause leaf curl, (e.g. plum leaf curling aphid). Simply an infestation of aphids on the underside of a leaf can cause the leaf to curl up.

When aphids or other insects are the cause, then it is normally quite apparent. There are also a few caterpillars that curl the leaves around themselves, some even sewing the edges to do so! All forms of leaf curl caused by insects can be cured simply by spraying with an insecticide.

Leaf scorch however - identified by a typical 'scorched' appearance - can indicate a plant mineral deficiency, or a reaction to chemical sprays or even excessive sunlight in an un-shaded greenhouse.

Some leaves curl up naturally - better described as 'rolling' up than curling. Rhododendrons in particular will roll their leaves up in severe drought in order to minimise moisture loss via transpiration.

Leaf Curl / Peach Leaf Curl first appears in early spring. As the new growth appears you may find some white powdery residue on the upper sides of the new leaves. These are the early signs that the tree or plant is infected. It is best at this point to remove the infected leaves, but not dispose of them in the compost heap or the brown bin. It is best to burn.

The tree or plant then needs treatment, the methods are detailed below.

If left untreated or unnoticed the leaves will curl and by the autumn time they will become curled and twisted with red blisters / blemishes on them. Very noticable from a distance and you may find it has taken over most of the branches.

At this stage it is extremely contageous and can spread to other trees in the same family, like peaches, almonds, nectarines and occasionally apricots.

If a tree has become infected with Peach Curl, and left untreated, it will firstly affect the fruit of the tree. The fruit will become smaller and after a few seasons it will stop producing fruit all together.

Leaf Curl obviously effects the leaves, they stop the photosynthesis process and starve the fruit of food.

If left completely untreated, after 6 or 7 seasons, the tree will sadly die, it is best to treat the trees as early as possible.

Leaf Curl is a fungus, it is highly transferable from leaf to leaf, branch to branch. It gives off tiny dust like spores which attach, attack and feed on leaves. The fungus stops the photosynthesis process which id vital to the trees survival.

At the first signs you must remove the infected leaves (place them in a burn bag or burn them yourself, do not add them to your compost heap or your brown bin, this will only increase the chances of contaminating other trees), this will reduce the spreading, not a cure. Other leaves will also be infected, but to the naked eye you will not know which ones, therefore you must now spray the whole tree with a treatment method.

There are two methods, chemical control of peach leaf curl and / or Organic / Natural control of peach leaf curl.

Chemical Control of Peach Leaf Curl

At the first signs you must remove the infected leaves (place them in a burn bag or burn them yourself, do not add them to your compost heap), this will reduce the spreading. Removing the infected leaves is not a cure. Other leaves will also be infected, but to the naked eye you will not know which ones, therefore you must now spray the whole tree with a treatment method.

The best effective treatment is a mixture of Copper Sulphate and Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide) which is called the Bordeaux mixture. It is commercially used to prevent infestations of downy mildew, powdery mildew, potato blight, peach leaf curl and apple scab in vineyards, fruit-farms and gardens.

It prevents the germination of fungal spores as long as you follow the application guidelines.

This is a simple mix of 1:1:100, one part Copper Sulphate, one part Slaked Lime, one hundred part water. In our terms, 50 ml of Copper Sulphate, 50 ml of Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide), equals 5,000 ml of Water (5 ltrs).

If you purchase the powder or crystal versions of Copper Sulphate or Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide), you must mix into a soluable solutions separately before you mix them together.

Once soluable, mix them together, shake well, and pour into your sprayer, prime your sprayer and spray your tree from top to bottom, every branch, bark, and leaves, to the point of saturation.

You should do this when you first discover an infection but prevention is the key to success, follow | When to Treat Peach Leaf Curl? | listed below

Treatment will take 10 days to take effect.

Chemical Control of Peach Leaf Curl

Step 1:

• Remove the infected leaves with a pair of Secateurs Place the infected leaves in a burn bag or burn them yourself, do not put them in your brown bin or compost heap

Step 2:

• Add 50 ml of Copper Sulphate to 50 ml of Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide) to 5,000 ml of Water (5 ltrs) Depending upon the size of the tree will depend upon how much you need to mix. Mix well and add it to your sprayer

Step 3:

• Prime your sprayer and spray the infected tree from top to bottom, spray each leaf, branch and trunk to the point of saturation

Supplies Required

Treatment or shall I say prevention of leaf curl is carried out in 3 stages.

The first stage is the early stages of the fall. When autumn approaches, give the tree a shake and if a few leaves fall, then this is the perfect time for the first treatment. It is when the tree is about to shed its leaves, it is extremely weak, and at this point the treatment will take the biggest effect.

The second treatment should be done at the coldest part of the winter, yes I know, you dont want to be out in the cold, but it is essential to treat / spray the tree.

The final treatment is in the spring, just as the buds start to form and open.

These 3 treatments will set up your trees for the coming season, ensuring a fruitful season. Prevention is the best cure.

Leaf Curl is a fungus, it is highly transferable from leaf to leaf, branch to branch. It gives off tiny dust like spores which attach, attack and feed on leaves. The fungus stops the photosynthesis process which id vital to the trees survival.

At the first signs you must remove the infected leaves (place them in a burn bag or burn them yourself, do not add them to your compost heap), this will reduce the spreading, not a cure. Other leaves will also be infected, but to the naked eye you will not know which ones, therefore you must now spray the whole tree with a treatment method.

The natural treatment method of peach leaf curl is Oregano Oil.

This is a simple mix of Oregano Oil and water which is best dispensed by a sprayer. Add 7 ml of Oregano Oil to 1 pint (16 fl oz) of water, in your sprayer bottle, shake well to mix and apply.

Prime your sprayer and spray the infected tree from top to bottom, spray each leaf, branch and trunk to the point of saturation.

You should do this when you first discover an infection but prevention is the key to success, follow | When to Treat Peach Leaf Curl? | listed above

Organic Control of Peach Leaf Curl

Step 1:

• Remove the infected leaves with a pair of Secateurs; Place the infected leaves in a burn bag or burn them yourself, do not put them in your brown bin or compost heap

Step 2:

• Add 7 ml of Oregano Oil to 1 pint (16 fl oz) of water Depending upon the size of the tree will depend upon how much you need to mix. Mix well and add it to your sprayer

Step 3:

• Prime your sprayer and spray the infected tree from top to bottom, spray each leaf, branch and trunk to the point of saturation

Supplies Required