Common Peach Diseases and Insects and How to Prevent Them

Peaches are very susceptible to several diseases and insects that can spoil the harvest or even kill the tree. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about the most common diseases and insects of peach. He describes the symptoms of brown rot, peach leaf curl, and phony peach disease as well as the insects plum curculio, white peach scale, and peach borer. Mike then talks about what to do to prevent these problems and gives a spray schedule to keep your trees and fruit protected all year.
0:00 - Introduction
1:01 - Brown Rot
2:10 - Peach Leaf Curl
2:23 - Phony Peach
3:26 - Plum Curculio
4:20 - Peach Scale
5:31 - Peachteee Borer
5:57 - What to Spray
6:16 - When to Spray
8:28 - How to Control the Peachtree Borer
*UT Home orchard spray guide:
ag.tennessee.edu/EPP/Redbook/...
*Here are links to the chemicals Mr. D talked about: (Amazon affiliate links)
Always read and follow label directions
Cover Sprays:
Captan Fungicide: amzn.to/48bBDWd
Sulfur Fungicide: amzn.to/488mi8H
Chlorothalonil Fungicide: amzn.to/49mft4u
Malathion Insecticide: amzn.to/3wbevde
Dormant Oil: amzn.to/3OCNrd3
Home Orchard Spray Containing Captan and Malathion: amzn.to/3HPZSOT
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For even more information, go to www.familyplotgarden.com

[@erol13]

Thank you so much for these priceless information!

[@jackiehorsley9263]

That was some great information I will definitely remember that if I ever decide to plant a fruit tree

[@TheGrilledCheeseSandwich]

Awesome information, Thank you!!

[@ribbetribbet1161]

Thanks guys

[@stefkadank-derpjr1453]

I made this same comment under another family plot post but I tried to grow my peaches completely organically and sadly I watched tree after tree get weak, the fruit was terrible and oozing. Finally someone convinced me to at least try and spray them with sulfur and you know what I did spray sulfer, one application of sulfur and that's it. I have 7 acres and I had four kids at the time and I just did not take the time to find out how to take care of the peach trees. Well I have new peach trees now and I listen to an older peach farmer tell me you got to spray and spray. Kelsey told me if you're going to go 100% organically best of luck to you let me know how it goes. I didn't want to bother him and ask a whole Litany of questions like, when do I spray and how do I spray.... so I'm so grateful for these videos because they answered all my questions.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Thanks for watching. May you have many juicy peaches!

[@robinmarks5638]

Very good thank you!

[@littledragonfly5935]

Thank you for the very informative video. I had been searching a lot but couldn’t find the name of the bugs in my little garden. I’ve bought a nectarine tree recently and it didn’t come healthy, which brought me to this video. And now I know the name of the bugs also, glassy-winged sharpshooters. I need to find a way to control them.

[@gerardkiff2026]

Man, I have never spayed my trees that much with that many chemicals. Twice , dormancy and bloom. That’s it. I don’t know if I’d eat his peaches lol.

[@frankietiles]

Thinking the same thing

[@yerneedsry]

You made me want to give up on my fruit trees now..

[@jawadturk]

So far this year in the state of Michigan I've had leaf curl, ooz coming out of both the fruit and the trunk and now the tip of the new growth is turning red then wilting and dying. All of this happened while I already had a spray program and was treating with Captan and bug buster which has esfenvalerate in it but tbh it rained more than usual during may and I should've probably sprayed more often. At this point I'm just hoping that my tree will survive till next season.

[@katjones4840]

😮 dang. Gardening is hard

[@briimarie2218]

I think it would be very appreciated from multiple viewers. not just myself if you would do alternatives to some of these chemicals as they are not legally allowed to ship to California. I cannot be the only one who can't get a lot of the chemicals that you guys recommend sent to me. I love your videos are very informative. thank you for all your information

[@channelx92]

Neem oil mixed according to the instructions and sprayed on

[@mabercrombie100]

I win..I am pretty sure my peach tress have had or have all these ;) my husband may have been correct to just chop them down ;)

[@Hunter-yc4xi]

The biggest problem I have with spraying is weather conditions. It's always either too hot (85+ degrees) or windy!

[@kenb3552]

I have had hole shot and peach leaf curl affect my tree Georgia Belle at different times. They seem to require two different kinds of fungicides to prevent, but are applied on the same schedule. Can I mxi the two fungicides (Chlorothalonil and copper fungicide) together in the same sprayer for one application?

[@richardwilliams1334]

Hi there I found your program very informative and interesting. I live in NZ, and I have no problem growing any kind of stone fruit tree among many others. My ground is black iron orr sand from the West Coast of our NI. From my mouth to the ground then a few mouths latter up pops this tree. Our problem here is brown rot lots and lots of it all over our district and curly Leafe. Cupper is used pretty much all year around if I can beat the rains fortnightly for curly leafe except when tree has fruit on it. But this brown rot thing well that's another matter. No one has ever been able to rid our district of it in fact last summer was the worst in the history of all stone fruits. I have 50 odd wild peach trees from golden queens, green gages, black boys and a number of different white peaches as well as nectarines scattered in my back yard as well as along our State Highways, these were all hit with brown rot last season. I'm a hobby farmer not for profit.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Thanks for your comment, hope you found the video helpful.

[@Big88Country]

When fruit is on the tree, do you mix Captain and Malathion together to spray?

[@susieczellar4580]

My peach was oozing a yellow substance. (Right on the little split line area of the peach) Is it too late to save the little fruit? This is the 1st year my tree has had fruit. I'm very new to growing peach trees and especially the actual peaches.

[@saadullah8453]

It would be great to add fertilizer & irrigation need and schedule of peaches & plum? Thanks for great service.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Thanks for watching. We may do that in a future video.

[@belliott538]

Well Crud! Just added a Plumb Tree to my mini orchard last year… Guess I’m gonna have to replace the Plumb with a Grapefruit… Dang It!!! 😳 Thanks for this Video…

[@alhoot727]

I had 2 plum trees out back, and the plums would rot and fall off every year. My peach trees in the front yard were good for a few years but now 3 years in a row got the same disease, So I cut the plum trees down because I think that's where it started. so now I will address the peach problem,I'm in Georgia.

[@frankheirigs2234]

I just got a new tree last year. It had put on 12-15” of growth but over the next winter it killed all of last year growth what do I do??

[@estebanmiguel6019]

Will Malathion control both OFM and plum Curculio?

[@khmerjamesgoodness8712]

👍👍👍

[@zoesunshine2646]

My granny used to pour her used dishwater at the base of her peach tree. Can you tell me why she did that?

[@lrigdrenlrigdren2147]

Thanks! I'm a little discouraged ... I planted 2 small peaches in my yard, not to do anything commercially but just enjoy their flowers and fruit. Now it seems like a lot of care to keep them healthy. I hope they make it! I really appreciate the specifics of how and when to treat them with fungicide and insecticide. Are there also natural methods to discourage at least the insects? Masking with the smell of herbs or other plants?

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

You could try to mask with other smells, but the trees are so big in comparison, I don't know if it would work.

[@democratpro]

Hope ur trees is vaxxed comrade!💉💉💉👍🏿

[@boygenius538_8]

try neem oil

[@666Necropsy]

most of these other treatments are very ineffective at treating real problems. you can experimenter yourself and then you will know. if these other treatments worked on a large scale we would all use them. it comes down to how much damage from insects or fungus can you live with.

[@edplaysdrums8435]

You’ve gotta spray with that fungicide stuff during winter, that’s a easy one that makes a big difference

[@alexhagedorn1365]

nothing on peach scab?

[@pascualgutierrez8140]

How to how to control fungal gum modi’s in a peach tree

[@courtneyhester9083]

Will mixing baking soda with water to make a spray help prevent/treat leaf spot on my Elberta peach ?

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Unfortunately, baking soda mixed with water will not prevent leaf spot. Leaf spot is caused by fungus. You will need to use a fungicide. Here is a video that goes over many peach diseases and how to prevent them: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4PYY553pbOaZqM

[@tuvaraking3543]

Late to growing peach trees so how do I prevent the curculia from claiming my peaches again next year?!

[@tuvaraking3543]

Never mind I watched the rest of the video. I think I’m done feeding the wildlife.

[@titanart6225]

Do y’all have names of specific products, not industrial but home garden accessible, for peach tree care? I’m trying to find the products you mention, dormant spray, captan, sulphur, etc., but I’m having trouble finding the correct products.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Like you say these are the chemical names. You will have to read the labels to find the product that contains them. Alternatively, search the internet - for example: "captan fungicide." There are several online retailers that sell chemicals. If you look at their listings you will see the brand names which you can take to the store. Also, I would suggest you go to a good local nursery and talk to them. They will show you what they have. The big box stores don't have a wide selection of chemicals.

[@titanart6225]

@@FamilyPlotGarden Thank you very much, do you have any video recommendations on an overview of what grows best in TN?

[@markopolo5123]

@ Family Plot; How far from my peach mini orchard should I plant plums? What are the organic spray options?

[@jessicanhlapo9339]

Wonder if anyone ever had bumble bees attack their peach trees🤔 😢

[@titanart6225]

I’d like to know the spray options too.something we can find in local garden stores

[@rickmann5227]

@@titanart6225 Everything he mentioned can be found in local garden stores. Plus get some Neem oli.

[@lorilal9931]

He talks about diseases on the tree and some ingredients that may help, but I wish he would name a product that can be bought not just an ingredient. It would help.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Here are the recommendations in a University of Tennessee Extension Publication. extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB1622.pdf Depending on where you live there is probably a state publication with what has been found to work best in your area.

[@jesserice9446]

They Did name products and their USES, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST TUTORIAL 👌 SITES THAT I HAVE FOUND

[@geaj4214]

Oh no I have 2 plum trees right beside my peach trees.😢

[@debbielilly2926]

So do I lol crap

[@jdogsbad]

What do you recommend I use if anything as my bee hives are just 20 ft away .

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Hello, make sure you spray when there is no wind or the wind is blowing away from beehives. It is best to spray when the sun is going down and the bees are not active. Also note, when there are no flowers on the trees the bees will just ignore the flowers, the bees won't be in the trees. Hope that helps.

[@jdogsbad]

Yes, that's what I have been doing. I was asking for a bee friendly spray if you know of any. Thank You.

[@shirleyallen1418]

Momma always painted lime on her fruit tree trunks. Kept off a lot of bugs

[@harleirebelqwin]

May you elaborate? "painted lime" lime puree? lime juice?

[@blythelauren2924]

I know this is ages later, but this person is referring to lime as in limewash, a type of paint. We also use lime in agriculture to amend soils. It’s a form of calcium carbonate, and has nothing to do with the lime fruit. I assume lime wash has lime in it (not the fruit kind.)

[@xuyahfish]

Convincing my husband to grow 2 or 3 peach trees in our yard bc I'm sure we'll end up loosing at least 1. (He just wanted 1)

[@florcedillo7964]

I was told we need 2 and they pollinate each other. If one dies the other will die to if you don't replace the dead one

[@jwang3417]

7:15

[@rbabathakur9839]

Gum problem in my peachs fruit what can I do please reply

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Thanks for your question. It is likely the Oriental Fruit Moth. You'll find some help in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKawpK2Ghp6abLs

[@todive4]

I've read that you shouldn't eat fruit sprayed with malathion.

[@carlosgranados7319]

We’re do you buy these products

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

You can find most of them at a local nursery. You may need to go online to get the rest.

[@preachergirl611]

Think I will just dig up my peach tree and throw it in the garbage. Too much spraying and hoping for the best!😠

[@Acts-1322]

Heck no. Build your soil health and stop the chemical madness.

[@GoingGreenMom]

If you haven't dug them up yet, there are organic sprays you can use. I use BT for oriental moths and copper for fungicide to combat brown rot. I am still working on the issues, but 2 years in on treatment and I did get a harvest last year. And I don't spray as often as the spray regimes say I should. I am aiming to get 3 sprays in a dormant period, but last year I got 1. And none during the fruiting period. The year before was the first time I had dealt with brown rot, and it seemed to be triggered by having sprayed with dormant oil to try to get rid of the oriental moth issue which wasn't a complete decimation the first few years. I didn't get the spray done after leaves were gone around November, but I did get an application of copper and BT (even put them in the sprayer at the same time) on in early February, and am hoping to get another application on in March before they start flowering......

[@alexgg7499]

​@GoingGreenMom so you spray after bloom and fruit start to form once

[@kalenamichele3114]

What is a shuck split?

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

The shuck is a part of the flower. The tiny pollinated fruit grows in the shuck until it grows large enough to split the shuck.

[@dotti6383]

Very discouraging, we just planted a peach tree this spring not knowing what’s involved to keep it healthy

[@florcedillo7964]

Get another peach 🍑 tree they pollinate each other.

[@nealmclain6316]

What is shuck split

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

When you start to see the "crack" down the side of the peach.

[@1vertical11]

Maybe Peach trees cannot survive in nature

[@AquaRightLLC]

If you follow the advice in this video you should just buy your peaches at the supermarket. Insect pressure and disease pressure on stone fruit is a function of poor tree health. Poor soil health is the cause of all the peach diseases describe in this video. The fungicides and Insecticides outlined in the video may in the short term solve the problem but in the long term will only contribute to the problem getting worse forcing you to spray even more the following year. This is bad for the plant the soil and your body. These spays kill microbes in the soil that the tree needs to maintain its own immune system. I have 40 Stone fruit varieties and I have no Diseases or insect problems. The only thing that makes my fruit disappear are birds squirrels and me.🍑🍒🍎. Get your BRIX reading above 12 and all those insects and diseases go away!!

[@mabercrombie100]

We need videos on how to do this

[@democratpro]

Hope ur vaxxed comrade!💉💉💉

[@ademolaawe]

Do you use any homemade organic sprays, or aromatic companion plants to mask the peach trees? I heard that helps.

[@cdreid9999]

What utter bullshit. Antivaxer too? Right now peach farmers are in a war against a disease that makes trees produce unusable fruit. Once they get it theyre useless. Sadly the internet hasgivem the ignorant a voice

[@AquaRightLLC]

@@cdreid9999 Wow A incoherent response to a well thought out and educated explanation of stone fruit disease, and insect pressure. I have a degree in biology with a minor in Chemistry. So I will say this to you biology trumps chemistry always. There is no chemical poison that will save your peach trees. funny how we get responses like this about peach tree growers who put poison on their trees year after year and now they’re saying wow the whole situation is just screwed and i’m loosing my farm. Of course you are.

[@sahmadi1000]

I give up.

[@rayellebishop8168]

I created more work for myself.

[@rbmcobra]

My 8-year-old peach tree has been having problems the last few years. It only blossoms and get leaves on the top third of the tree. I get very little fruit too. What is going on and how to fix it. Thanks. I do get new shoots from the bottom half each year but not until later in the year.

[@FamilyPlotGarden]

Interesting. We will pass your question on to Chris and his guests, so be on the look for a future video with the answer.