Peach tree disease? - Ask Extension
I have a Frost peach tree that has been established for over. 8 years or more. Last year was a huge crop of peaches and the tree was full of leaves. T...
Knowledgebase
Peach tree disease? #867939
Asked May 10, 2024, 6:37 PM EDT
I have a Frost peach tree that has been established for over. 8 years or more. Last year was a huge crop of peaches and the tree was full of leaves. This year the leaves are small and thin and are mostly falling off. There are a few peach buds but not many. The tree almost looks bare in some spots where it’s lost leaves. This is highly unusual for this tree because it usually has a lot of leaves that are bigger.
Any help you can offer would be appreciated.
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
We had a few hard frosts this spring, so the small leaves and defoliation could be due to frost damage. Also, the canopy looks crowded on top, so I'm wondering how often you prune. It looks like the lower portion of the tree dropped leaves, while the upper canopy with more sun exposure looks healthy. Keep in mind that peaches fruit on 1-year old wood (i.e. the red colored wood that emerges in the spring), so that is where you will see fruit formation this year. For more on pruning, refer to the following OSU Extension publication: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/pnw400
A few other considerations and things to watch for: Root rot and peach leaf curl can cause a peach tree to drop leaves. Frost is a curl resistant variety, and I don't see any red crinkled leaves, so I think we can rule out peach leaf curl. Root and collar rot could also cause defoliation. You would typically see wilting and/or yellowing leaves, which I don't see in the photo, and a canker at the base of the tree. Are the black pipes at the base of the tree used to water the tree? How often do you water? Be careful about overwatering and saturating the soil, it can lead to root or collar rot issues. I recommend clearing the weeds at the base of the tree, and replacing with a wood chip mulch.
A few other considerations and things to watch for: Root rot and peach leaf curl can cause a peach tree to drop leaves. Frost is a curl resistant variety, and I don't see any red crinkled leaves, so I think we can rule out peach leaf curl. Root and collar rot could also cause defoliation. You would typically see wilting and/or yellowing leaves, which I don't see in the photo, and a canker at the base of the tree. Are the black pipes at the base of the tree used to water the tree? How often do you water? Be careful about overwatering and saturating the soil, it can lead to root or collar rot issues. I recommend clearing the weeds at the base of the tree, and replacing with a wood chip mulch.
