Software
Houzz Logo Print
don400

Peach Tree Leaf Curl

last year
last modified: last year

Has anyone used a 1:10 Bleach solution on their peach tree to fight leaf curl?

Comments (10)

  • last year

    It is not something I would ever advocate. Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease and bleach is not a fungicide. Moreover, bleach has an extremely high pH (11) and is toxic to all manner of other organisms, including pollinators, as well as being very damaging to plant foliage.

    Get a proper fungicide registered for peach leaf curl and apply as directed in fall after leaf drop and again at bud swell in spring and again in 2 week intervals while conditions that encourage the disease persist. Do not spray anything when the tree is in flower.

  • last year

    Ok,, I read about some people advocating an epsom salt solution. do you have any opinions on that?

  • last year

    As Gardengal said, "Get a proper fungicide registered for peach leaf curl."

    Alternatively you can reduce infection by protecting the trees from rain in late winter and early spring.

    How big are they?

  • last year

    I am looking for more natural remedies and have also read about baking soda, vinegar, oregano and neem oil

  • last year

    Epsom salts won't do bupkus for peach leaf curl!! That's like taking an antacid for a broken leg. 😆There is nothing in ES that could possibly be construed as an effective fungicide. Neem oil or other horticultural oils are considered "natural" or organic and may have a limited effectiveness but anything else - other than a proper registered fungicide - is just a waste of time and money.

    If you are unwilling to apply a proper treatment to address this disease, then you should look into replacing your peach with a leaf curl resistant variety. Or just stop growing fruit trees, most of which will have a plethora of insect and disease problems.

    Sorry, but that's just life. You have to have the right tools to do the job.

  • last year

    Covering the trees from rain is natural and it is effective. You'd have to construct a plastic covered frame for each tree. Stuff from the kitchen isn't going to help. There are no remedies for plc, only preventatives.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    DON DiSciascio Actually I have the past 3 years. I was using a commercial fungicide for 2-3 years without effect, and was ready to trash the tree. I now spray with the bleach solution in late fall after the tree is going dormant, and late winter/early spring before the buds break. I haven't had an incident of curl since I started using the bleach. The tree is healthy, and of course I am spraying before the pollinators and most insects are out.

    BTW, bleach is indeed a fungicide.

    I have a native plum that has had plum pocket the past 2 years and again this year, despite my clean up efforts last year. Today I removed all of the fruit, from tiny to already large and distorted (but not yet showing spores). I had sprayed with a commercial fungicide before bud break this spring without effect - so next year I am going to try the bleach. If that doesn't work, the tree is going to be cut down.

    DON DiSciascio thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
  • last year

    How much bleach per gallon of water do you use as a spray?

  • last year

    Can you not figure out a 1:10 ratio? For every 10 cups of water, you will need 1 cup of bleach. There are 16 cups to a gallon.......