Time to Tackle Leaf Curl on Stone Fruit
- Tammy Johnson
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
Written and edited by Tammy 13th Aug 2025
We're well into the last month of winter and you can definitely feel spring is in the air!
There are a few really important jobs on most gardeners to do lists right now, and if you own any stone fruits this is one of them-treating for leaf curl.
Leaf curl is a fungal disease (caused by Taphrina deformans) that mainly attacks peaches and nectarines. It shows up in spring when new leaves emerge thickened, puckered, and often red or yellow, eventually becoming dry and distorted.
Over the winter months the microscopic fungal spores continue to live on the tree hiding in tiny crevices in the bark and around the dormant buds. When the weather is cool and wet in late winter and into early spring, the spores become active. As the buds swell and leaves begin to emerge, the spores infect the soft new growth, starting the cycle all over again.
Because leaf curl infection happens right at bud burst, your one chance to stop it is during bud swell, that stage where the buds are plump, showing a hint of colour, but before the leaves open. Once the leaves emerge, it’s too late for prevention.
What to do:
Spray with a copper-based fungicide (such as copper oxychloride or copper hydroxide).
Ensure thorough coverage of all branches and buds.
If the weather stays dry, follow up with a second spray about a week later for extra protection.
A couple of well-timed sprays now can save you from months of distorted, damaged leaves, and set you up for a bumper crop of beautiful fruit. 🍑
If leaf curl isn’t managed, over time it can take quite a toll on your stone fruit trees.
Weakened growth: Repeated attacks drain the tree’s energy as it tries to replace the damaged leaves.
Reduced fruiting: Fewer healthy leaves mean less photosynthesis, which means less energy for flowers and fruit, yields can drop significantly.
Smaller, poorer-quality fruit: Any fruit that does develop is often small, misshapen, or slow to ripen.
Increased vulnerability: A stressed tree is more prone to other pests, diseases, and even cold or drought damage.
Progressive decline: Severe, repeated infections over several years can lead to dieback of branches and, in extreme cases, the loss of the tree.
For home gardeners, that can mean going from a basket of juicy peaches to barely enough for a snack, or eventually no crop at all. Prevention is far easier (and cheaper) than trying to nurse a badly infected tree back to health.
Think of leaf curl like that uninvited guest who turns up every year right when the party’s about to start, only this one eats all your snacks and wrecks the furniture. A quick spray or two at the right time keeps the gate closed, your leaves lovely, and your peaches plentiful.
Happy gardening 😘🍑
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