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What Kind of Oil Is Used to Spray Fruit Trees to Avoid Peach Curl?

Peach trees (Prunus persica) are susceptible to a variety of pests and diseases, some more threatening than others and some worse according to location within the trees' U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. The best way to prevent diseases in fruit trees is to choose resistant varieties. Some peach trees to consider that resist peach leaf curl include “Indian Free,” “Frost,” Muir and “Q-1-8.” Although peach leaf curl looks nasty, it is not fatal and it can be prevented.

  1. Diagnosis

    • If the spring leaves on your peach tree curl and turn red, suspect that it has a disease known as peach leaf curl. New leaves may be yellow before they turn red and will be thick and distorted and may fall from the tree. The leaves may be covered with a powdery substance. The loss of the tree’s leaves hinders fruit production, according to integrated pest management specialists with the University of California.

    Cause

    • Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease caused by a pathogen with a somewhat creepy name -- Taphrina deformans. This pathogen thrives in cool, wet weather in the spring. When the deformed leaves fall, they are replaced by normal ones when the weather dries and warms up. The fungal spores remain, however, to infect the tree the following season.

    Preventive Oil Spray

    • Once the disease takes hold there is little you can do during the season. Prevention is key when it comes to peach leaf curl. Apply a fungicide in the fall after all the leaves have fallen from the tree. While there are several fungicides that effectively prevent peach leaf curl infections, integrated pest management specialists with the University of California suggest copper ammonium spray for its ease of use. They also recommend adding 1 percent spray oil to the mixture. Spray oil, or horticultural oil, is available online and in large gardening centers. It helps the fungicide remain where it is sprayed. The package directions provide the dilution rate for different percentages. Typically, 2.5 tablespoons in 1 gallon of water is equal to 1 percent.

    Application Tips

    • Use a spray tank with an adjustable nozzle and set the spray to the finest mist. Scientists with the Gosford Horticultural Institute in Australia say that fungicides work better when the particle sizes are small. Pour 1/2 gallon of water into the tank, add the 2.5 tablespoons of oil and, while swirling the tank, add 10 teaspoons of the fungicide and the remaining 1/2 gallon of water. Swirl the tank periodically while spraying to ensure that the fungicide and oil remain suspended in the water. The copper fungicide must cover all parts of the peach tree to the point of dripping. Allow the product to dry before allowing children and pets into the area. If winters are particularly wet in your area, reapply the fungicide just before bud swell.

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