Damaged Trunk on Peach Tree - Ask Extension
Hello, My peach tree was propped up last summer with a long 2x4 sort of wood. The trunk was scratched but we allowed the support to remain. I noticed ...
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Damaged Trunk on Peach Tree #925393
Asked March 04, 2026, 6:47 AM EST
Hello, My peach tree was propped up last summer with a long 2x4 sort of wood. The trunk was scratched but we allowed the support to remain. I noticed peach colored sap recently and removed the supports. How do I clean and help the tree repair? It also has suffered from leaf curl the past 2 summers. Thank you
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- supports are sometimes used to prop up a heavy or damaged limb. Don't attempt to repair or dress the scratches left by the wood support. The tree will naturally heal the area.
Peach trees often push out sap (gummosis) due to one or more stress factors- excess soil moisture, physical injury, diseases, and insect pests. Even healthy trees will do this to some degree.
Keep the tree as healthy as possible, as peach trees are not typically long-lived in MD (10-15 year life) due to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Irrigate when rainfall is lacking and fertilize with a complete fertilizer (contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) during the flowering period. Try to find and apply a fertilizer with the first number (nitrogen) of the guaranteed analysis as high as possible (e.g., 10-5-5).
Peach leaf curl was more widespread the past two years due to cool, wet spring weather. A single application of a fixed copper fungicide or Bordeaux mixture before bud swell in spring (mid-March) will prevent the disease:
https://extension.psu.edu/peach-disease-peach-leaf-curl
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-fru-26
Peach web page:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden-cherries-peaches-plums/
Jon
Peach trees often push out sap (gummosis) due to one or more stress factors- excess soil moisture, physical injury, diseases, and insect pests. Even healthy trees will do this to some degree.
Keep the tree as healthy as possible, as peach trees are not typically long-lived in MD (10-15 year life) due to pests, diseases, and environmental stress. Irrigate when rainfall is lacking and fertilize with a complete fertilizer (contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) during the flowering period. Try to find and apply a fertilizer with the first number (nitrogen) of the guaranteed analysis as high as possible (e.g., 10-5-5).
Peach leaf curl was more widespread the past two years due to cool, wet spring weather. A single application of a fixed copper fungicide or Bordeaux mixture before bud swell in spring (mid-March) will prevent the disease:
https://extension.psu.edu/peach-disease-peach-leaf-curl
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/plpath-fru-26
Peach web page:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-stone-fruits-home-garden-cherries-peaches-plums/
Jon
