Spring treatment of peaches against diseases and pests

To recover from winter and quickly enter the growing season, optimal conditions for the peach tree's development should be created. Spring is the time when both plants and insect pests awaken from hibernation. Peaches are a delicate crop and require specific care. To ensure fruit production, regular spring treatments are necessary to eliminate pests and diseases.

Why is spring peach treatment necessary?

To ensure the fastest possible awakening and recovery of the peach tree, care should begin with the first warm days. Major peach diseases can manifest themselves in various ways. Leaf curl is recognized as the most dangerous disease. Infestation begins in early spring, when new buds swell. The disease initially spreads to new leaves, where it develops:

• reddish;
• pinkish;
• brown spots.

The leaf surface becomes uneven and more wavy. After a few days, a white waxy coating appears on the inner surface of the leaf. These are fungal microspores. The leaves then begin to brown and fall off.

The trunk is affected from the bottom up. The shoots lose their original shape and take on a yellowish tint. Some shoots, especially the tops, gradually dry out and die when frost sets in. Fruit growing on these shoots quickly falls off.

Powdery mildew is the most common problem affecting all stone fruit crops. It attacks the leaves, leaving the fruit covered with a whitish coating.

In spring, trees are treated against pests:

• scale insect;
• aphid;
• mite;
• leaf-eating insects.

The second treatment is done against:

1. Weevils. They destroy buds and young plant shoots. They can transmit most diseases, including fungal ones.
2. Aphids. They feed on the sap of young leaves. They reproduce very quickly, forming large colonies. If not treated promptly, the plant will suffer greatly and its growth will be slowed. The blood aphid is the most common aphid on peaches.
3. Mites. A mite infestation significantly weakens the tree's immune system. Acaricides are required to control these pests.

Codling moths destroy fruit ovaries on fruit trees. To eliminate them, it is necessary to spray peaches on time in early spring.

Peculiarities of peach processing in spring

Treatment of mature plants in the spring should include all four stages described below. Young trees that have never bloomed are less susceptible to pests, and treatment can be performed in three stages:

• during the period of dormant buds;
• during the period of bud break;
• after the tree has flowered and the ovaries have formed.

When caring for a peach tree spraying in spring carried out in compliance with a number of rules:

1. When carrying out treatment, it is necessary to wear protective clothing (gown, overalls), safety glasses, a respirator, and rubber gloves.
2. Apply in dry, windless, and rain-free weather. In hot, dry weather, there's no need to spray, as the product dries quickly and becomes ineffective.

During rainy weather, residual moisture remains on the leaves, and the solution rolls off rather than penetrates them. Spraying should be done in the morning (after the dew has dried) or in the evening, after sunset.

The main stages and timing of peach processing

Timely spraying of peach trees is the key to a successful harvest. However, don't rush this process. Frequent precipitation and fluctuating temperatures will make spraying less effective. Once the weather warms up (around 5-6°C during the day) and at least at night, you can begin spraying.

During this period, you can whitewash the lower branches and trunks. This will protect the trees from sun damage and temperature fluctuations. It will also prevent pests from entering the cracks. Specific treatments should be carried out at specific stages of the tree's development. Determining the appropriate timing is difficult; it's important to pay attention to the developmental phases.

Development phases:

• before the buds awaken or spraying on bare wood;
• spraying on the green cone, until the buds swell and open;
• by the blooming buds;
• after the flowers have fallen off, when pea-sized ovaries have formed.

It's important to remember that in addition to the trunk and branches, the surrounding soil should be sprayed. Pests and pathogens often reside there. As temperatures rise, insects will begin to reproduce rapidly. In the fall, peach trees should also be sprayed to combat pests and diseases.

How to properly spray a peach tree in spring

In the spring, treat the cut areas to protect them. As an additional measure, you can treat the cut with dissolved copper sulfate or a copper-containing product. Gardeners recommend regular pruning before the buds swell. Remove all young branches three buds from the top. Infections often originate in these branches, which then spread to healthy branches. Pests usually disappear after one pruning. Peach trees should be treated in the spring before the buds open, in March.

Recommendations:

1. Do not treat during flowering to prevent the product from getting into the future fruits of the tree.
2. To avoid clogging the siphon, you need to use a special filter mesh.
3. The solution should be at ambient temperature.

When using copper sulfate solution, use hot water. When using a biological product, use chlorine-free water.

What to spray a peach with

There are many chemical insecticides available for sale, each with a different function and mechanism of action. Each product comes with instructions that must be followed to avoid harming yourself, the trees, and the surrounding environment.

Purchased products

Eradication treatments can be carried out when the peach tree is dormant. A shock dose of the product is required for effective treatment. Such treatments are typically highly toxic.

Apply:

1. Dnok. A very strong product. For use only on farms. Can be applied once every 3 years. Do not spray in residential areas. Must be diluted in two stages. May be toxic to humans. Personal protective equipment must be worn when using. Strictly adhere to the proportions and dosage.
2. Nitrafen. This product is highly toxic. It can be used in years when Dnok is not used. The solution should be made at a rate of 300 g per 10 liters of liquid.
3. Copper sulfate. The most commonly used product. A highly concentrated solution is used to treat bark and trunks. A less concentrated solution can be used to combat fungal infections. A 0.2% solution can be used as a fertilizer. The product is diluted in hot water to prevent sediment.

To reduce the acidity of a copper sulfate solution, lime is often added, which when mixed together forms Bordeaux mixture. This mixture is essential for soil treatment. The solution does not have a long shelf life. The effect lasts no more than 24 hours. For shock doses, 500 g of the solution is used, and for preventative treatment, 100 g is used.

Ferrous sulfate is used as a preventative treatment for cuts and wounds on trees. It inhibits bud break, which is beneficial for the tree during a prolonged winter. It is used in early spring to avoid burning the buds. The solution should be used immediately after preparation. Repeat the treatment after two weeks.

Fungicides act as antifungal agents. Trees can develop resistance to them, so it's recommended to alternate them.

Preparations:

1. Horus. Effective against leaf curl and purple leaf spots. Apply three applications per season. The protective treatment lasts about 7 days.
2. Fast. Effective against peach diseases such as leaf curl and powdery mildew. After application, the plant regenerates new leaves and bud formation increases for the following season. Prepare a solution at a rate of 2 ml per 10 liters of water.
3. Strobi. It has a fairly broad spectrum of action. It inhibits the development of fungal infections. When applied, it forms a protective film on the leaves. The treatment should be repeated after a week. For prevention, the tree trunks should also be sprayed.
4. Fitosporin. A versatile product, particularly effective against hay bacillus spores. It can be used both preventatively and therapeutically. Fitosporin poses no danger to humans and can be used as soon as the fruit ripens. It can be used at any time throughout the entire ripening period.
5. Urea. Contains a significant amount of nitrogen. It is used to control aphids, weevils, leafhoppers, and various fungal diseases. It is also applied in the spring to control diseases and pests. Don't worry about overdosing on fertilizer; it's not harmful to peach trees.

Insecticides are used to control pests in the spring. Decis is a kind of "first aid" for plants. It acts immediately, maintaining its protective properties for two weeks. It can accumulate in the soil, so it should not be used regularly.

Iskra Bio is a biological product for eliminating aphids and mites. The insects are immediately affected. Peaches can be eaten within a few days after application.

Fitoverm is effective against all types of pests. They usually die within 7-10 days after application.

Folk remedies

Traditional methods can be used to treat peach trees. They are environmentally friendly and safe for both garden plants and humans.

You can prepare a tobacco infusion:

• Pour 10 liters of water over 0.5 tobacco;
• leave to infuse for 48 hours;
• boil for 1 hour;
• 1 liter of concentrate per 10 liters of water;
• 40 g of soap is added to the soap solution.

You can take tobacco dust.

You can use a chamomile remedy:

• Pour 5 liters of boiling water over 0.5 kg of dried flowers;
• leave for 12 hours;
• add 40 g of laundry soap;
• add 10 liters of water;
• strain;
• use for processing the trunk and crown.

Another good remedy can be prepared from:

• dried pepper pods – 100 g;
• boiling water – 1 l.

Boil for 2 hours. Let steep for another 2 hours, strain, and dilute with 10 liters of water. Apply to leaves and shoots.

Preventive measures and reviews

In addition to spraying, preventative measures can help prevent the appearance of harmful insects: cleaning the area in spring and fall, tilling the soil, and removing weeds under trees. Fertilizing to boost the immune system, regularly pruning, and planting disease-resistant varieties are also necessary. Gardeners' reviews offer recommendations and advice on how to easily and safely treat peaches.

Nikolai Ivanovich, Anapa

I've been growing peaches for several years now. I spray regularly. I find it indispensable for insect control. I use urea as a spray. I do the first treatment when the outside temperature is around 5°C. The pests are dormant, and it's much easier to control them. To make the solution, I dilute 500 g of urea in 10 liters of water. This amount of solution can treat 10 m2 of area. You can add carbamide or copper sulfate to the urea.

Svetlana Viktorovna, Sochi

For spring treatment of peaches, I use dry urea. I scatter it around the tree trunks and water generously. Urea nourishes the plant well and strengthens its immune system. I spray in the morning during dry weather. I consider urea to be effective and safe. I would like to highlight the positive properties of urea. It is a synthetic substance produced by synthesizing carbon dioxide and ammonia. Urea is more expensive than urea, but the product is also quite high-quality.

Anna Sergeevna, Tuapse

I have a small garden plot. Recently, on a friend's advice, I planted a peach tree. Now I'm wondering how to control insects, what to spray, and how to care for them. Following the advice of more experienced gardeners, I use Fufanon to eliminate pests. I dilute the solution according to the instructions. First, I dissolve the product in a small amount of water, then add it to the sprayer. The result is simply stunning. The pests disappear after one treatment. I believe two sprays per season are sufficient. To prevent the insects from developing a tolerance, you can alternate the insecticides. I wish you a good harvest!

Regular spraying peach trees Prevent various fungal diseases and pest infestations. If necessary during the summer, spraying can be done only with biological products. If all the necessary conditions are met, a good harvest will not be long in coming.