Leaf Curl

Peach or nectarine leaves curl and pucker in spring, caused by Taphrina deformans during cool, wet budbreak. A single dormant fungicide application in late fall or late winter before bud swell is highly effective. Choose tolerant cultivars like Krummel or Rosy Dawn; avoid susceptible King types.

Good sanitation is your most effective tool against leaf curl. Remove and dispose of infected plant material, clean up fallen debris, and sterilize your pruning tools between plants. Reduce leaf wetness by watering at soil level and spacing plants for adequate air movement. These practices reduce the pathogen load in your garden over successive seasons.