Why Does My Almond Tree Look Sickly?

Are the leaves curled, distorted, and yellow?

Are there holes in the trunk?

Are the leaves and branches covered by small bumps?

are there spots on leaves that run together, ooze is present?

Have the flowers and shoots suddenly wilted in spring?

Are the leaves covered with white powdery patches?

Distorted, curled leaves are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted, and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Adult flathead borers are beetles, flat-looking, and colored metallic brown to a dull gray. They emerge in the spring and females lay eggs in crevices in the tree bark. If the host tree is vigorous and healthy, these burrowing worms may be drowned by the sap. Weak trees fall victim to the borers' activity as they tunnel in the trunk, producing sawdust-like material and eventually girdling the tree. Young almond trees are particularly vulnerable. If the tunnels are fairly straight, kill the borer larva by probing the tunnel with a flexible wire.

Brownish bumps on leaves and branches of almond trees are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

A bacterial leaf spot sometimes attacks almond foliage. Spots are small and blister-like, later enlarging and running together. Ruptured spots release a bacterial ooze. In serious infections, shrubs may be defoliated and die. Remove and discard affected leaves as soon as spots appear. Keep the yard free of plant debris. Disinfect garden tools by dipping them in a solution of hot water and household bleach to prevent the spread of the disease. Spray affected shrubs weekly during rainy spells with a copper-based bactericide.

These symptoms indicate a bacterial disease Fire blight. Control fire blight during the growing season by pruning off branches a foot below infected sections. Between each cut, dip pruning shears into isopropyl alcohol or a 10 percent bleach solution to prevent spreading the disease as you prune.

White, powdery coating on the leaves is caused by a fungal disease Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew usually appears in damp places. Encourage good air circulation around the affected plants by thining any surrounding plants. Water plants from bellow to keep foliage dry. Any affected leaves should be cut off and removed. Any commercial fungicidal spray will protect your plant from further infections.

If the leaves are brown and branches wilt your almond may have contracted blossom blight and dieback. This disease attacks almond leaves, turning them brown. As it progresses, entire branches wilt. The only treatment is to promptly prune out infected twigs and branches. Trash them and disinfect pruning tools in hot water and household bleach. If this is a chronic problem use wettable sulfur in the spring before flowering.