Apricots And Peaches In My Garden Have a Similar Sickly Look. How Can I Determine What Is Wrong With Them?

Do the young fruits of your apricots and peaches have crescent-shaped scars on them?

Do the fruits of your apricots and peaches have small brown spots that enlarge and grow fuzzy in humid weather?

Do the fruits of your apricots and peaches have small, dark and sunken spots or cracks in the skin?

Can you see pinkish worms inside the fruits of your apricots and peaches?

Are the growing shoots wilted or dying?

Is there a gummy exudate from the wilted twigs?

Do the leaves of your apricots and peaches have small purple spots with some spots with missing centers?

Do the whole trees declines and is there a gummy exudate mixed with sawdust material on the trunk near ground level?

Are the branches on your trees wilting and failing to produce leaves?

Are there any sunken, elliptical lesions often oozing reddish gum on the branches?

Crescent-shaped scars on fruits are caused by beetles - Plum curculios. These pests are common mostly to the Rockies region. You can control their numbers by gently shaking the tree and the branches or hitting the branches with a padded mallet and when the bugs fall, collect and destroy them. If you do this twice a day, you won't have trouble with them.

These symptoms are caused by bu fungal disease - Brown rot. Other symptoms of brown rot may be withered blossoms, mummified fruits, and brown leaves. Remove and destroy both mummified fruits and twigs or branches with gummy lesions. For more control, spray sulfur early to protect blooms, then again later to protect the fruit.

Pinkish worms on your plants are the second larval stadium of Oriental fruit moth. These insects can make lots of damage to the fruit trees and can be challenging to control. Timely BTK insecticide sprays and the introduction of parasitic wasp Macrocentrus ancylivorus will help in controlling them.

These symptoms may indicate Peach twig borers. These small caterpillars tunnel into growing shoots and fruits and feed on the inside. Prune off the affected fruits and shoots below the entry point and destroy them. If you find holes in larger branches, slide the wire into the hole to kill borers inside.

First larval stadium of Oriental fruit moth tunnel trough twigs. These insects can make lots of damage to the fruit trees and can be challenging to control. Timely BTK insecticide sprays and the introduction of parasitic wasp Macrocentrus ancylivorus will help in controlling them.

Purple spots on the leaves are caused by fungal disease Shothole disease. This disease is common in the west of the USA and spreads fast across the wet foliage. It can also affect fruits. You can't cure this disease during the current season, but copper spray before vegetation starts to keep the fungus in check. Also, keep irrigation water away from the foliage.

These symptoms usually indicate Peachtree borers. These pests are larvae of clear-winged moths that tunnel below the bark of the tree and feed on the inside. Kill the borers by inserting a wire in the entry holes. Peachtree borers are attracted to weak trees, so avoid mechanical damage and water your tree often to keep it vigorous.

Environmental issues might have caused your plants to look unhealthy. Apricots and peaches should be planted in a spot with full sun. Soil should be evenly moist at all times but not flooded or soaked. Use mulch to ensure even moisture in the ground and thin all surrounding trees that might have cast a shadow on your apricots and peaches. Fertilize them only once, just before vegetation season.

These symptoms indicate bacterial canker. Prune off wilted or dying branches below the infected area. You should sterilize pruning tools in isopropyl alcohol beforehand. Copper sprays help in the control of the disease.

Valsa canker causes branches to wilt and fail to produce leaves. Prune off wilted or dying branches below the infected area. You should sterilize pruning tools in isopropyl alcohol beforehand. Copper sprays help in the control of the disease.