Copper Fungicide on Peach Trees

[SwampCat]

Did some major damage to all my peach trees spraying copper. Plenty of recommendations to use copper as a fungicide. Also, a lot of precautions about water pH, humidity, temp, etc. Well, it must have been the wrong time




Bad enough when the coons and possums get all the fruit. Even worse when you damage or kill your own trees. I have a buddy who is seeing it also. He has sprayed copper for several years

Anyone else seen this? Trees shedding leaves and fruit like crazy. Will they recover? Or did I kill ten peach trees? Didnt affect the apples and pears

 

[homerj]

What was your goal with the copper on peaches? Preventing leaf curl? Copper is touchy. Too much, wrong form of copper, wrong water ph, wrong timing, wrong ambient temps during/after application can all cause issues. Captan may be a better choice depending on what you're trying to address.

 

[Barndog56]

I bought some copper fungicide too because everyone seems to swear by it for peach trees. I've never had brown rot though. After reading the label I've never attempted to actually use it. Isn't worth the gamble when all I get is a few spots on the skin of the peaches. They still taste unbelievable!

How has the weather been? My peach trees are the first to react to dry conditions, they'll drop leaves in a heartbeat. Even well established trees.

 

[SwampCat]

Weather has been wet. My intended use of copper was for a general fungicide to possibly combat a variety of issues from peach leaf curl to brown rot. Peaches will not make it down here in the hot humid south without a regular spray schedule. I use to use the general bonide fruit tree spray and it worked well - but then they changed to chemicals and not so great

 

[Barndog56]

Check this out.

What Do I Spray On Peach Trees? – The Orchard Stephenville

theorchardstephenville.com

 

[SwampCat]

Disease and Insect Control for Homegrown Peaches and Plums | Mississippi State University Extension Service

It takes a committed gardener to consistently produce high-quality peaches or plums. These fruit crops are especially demanding when it comes to pest management because peaches and plums are attacked by many insects and diseases that must be controlled to have a successful crop. This publication...

extension.msstate.edu

This is what I have decided to go with. I have talked to several peach growers around here and they claim the captan/malathion is better suited for fhe home orchardist and the captan/imidan more for the commercial orchardist. We are in a period of 12 days rain out of 14 days. While I expect a 100% loss of fruit at this point - I still may spray because I dont want the fruit to become infected with brown rot in its weakened state and present a control problem next year. I am just hoping some of the trees pull through at this point

Interestingly, I talked to another home orchardist I know - who has relied on copper spray for a number of years with no problem. He had the same thing happen to his trees at the same time as mine. Even worse, he also sprayed his son’s trees and the same thing happened to them. It was something environmentally present that contributed to this problem. If my trees do survive - it wont happen again because I will not be guilty of spraying copper in the future.

 

[bigboreblr]

leafed out is too late for peach curl Best time is fall right after the leaves fall off. I sprayed mine with bonide copper a little hotter than advertized. Did that right when the buds were waking up. Bit soon to quite tell, but it does look alot better tha lat year doing nothing.

Contender is the best for leaf curl. Many say first 2-3 years treating and you're good with leaf curl. Saturn peaches....... Got me another high maintenance girl........ Bonide makes a general fruit tree spray with isecticide and captan. Think it just called fruit tree spray.

MY wife loves those peaches, otherwise I wouldn't have a single peach or probably even pear. Just apples here in NY, and problem free as possible too.

 

[SwampCat]

Worst on my peaches is brown rot in this heat and humidity. My peach trees are putting on some new leaves - I think they are going to be ok. Peaches are not growing and I shake the trees to get them to fall off.

 

[bigboreblr]

Often leaves look a bit beat after spraying.

Got lucky today. Driving home noticed road was mostly dry. Looked at my leaves they were dry and have a few hours before rain again. 1.5 tbsp bonide fruit tree spray (purple label) and 1.5 tbsp additoonal malathion in a gallon sprayer. Got a 4ft wand for it, so everything is easy to reach.

Pinched off the flowers yeserday in the rain, so bees won't be a problem.

I sprayed the copper stuff maybe a month ago on my peaches and a apple tree or two that get cedar apple rust. PEaches looked the least catterpillar bitten up. Just about hole free leaves. Apple trees that got sprayed looked better on average too.

 

[SwampCat]

Often leaves look a bit beat after spraying.

Got lucky today. Driving home noticed road was mostly dry. Looked at my leaves they were dry and have a few hours before rain again. 1.5 tbsp bonide fruit tree spray (purple label) and 1.5 tbsp additoonal malathion in a gallon sprayer. Got a 4ft wand for it, so everything is easy to reach.

Pinched off the flowers yeserday in the rain, so bees won't be a problem.

I sprayed the copper stuff maybe a month ago on my peaches and a apple tree or two that get cedar apple rust. PEaches looked the least catterpillar bitten up. Just about hole free leaves. Apple trees that got sprayed looked better on average too.

i really liked the old bonide fruit tree spray. The new variety does not seem to provide equal protection in our hot, wet, humid weather. We have had 15” rain since Apr 1