skip to main content

Fruit & Orchards

graft over or remove peach tree

12 years ago

i have this peach tree that has been nothing but trouble- dont know the variety- it was the fruit tree i ever bought and i didnt know anything about fruit trees. i bought it from a local garden center and it didnt have a label. it got really bad peach leaf curl every year for the first 3 years i had it till i learned how to treat the disease but even with autumn and early spring copper sprays (kocide) it still had a moderate amount of peach leaf curl. what really hammers the tree however is a fungus/bacteria that shows itself as purple spots on almost every leaf followed by mass defolliations till there is only about a third of the leaves left. i believe that tree is also the source of infecton of my other stone fruit trees although they dont get it as bad. i managed to get a decent crop last year despite the fungus/bacteria but this spring there were hardly any blossoms. besides for the kocide, after shuck split i sprayed montomery fungi fighter, daconill and captan, as well as a tiny bit if kocide for good measure. i did two sprays following shuck split, but over the last 10 days, the tree has gotten the purple spots (not peachleaf curl) and then defoliated. I have had it with this tree. good riddance.

so i would like to leave the tree in the ground if possible, and graft it over with some plums, peaches and nectarines, but im worried that the disease might remain in the trunk and the major scaffold branches and travel into the new graft shoots that grow. will it? can i graft this tree over or do i need to uproot it?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

User
12 years ago
I had a nectarine with a similar problem, turned out to be X disease, and I took it out for the sake of my other stone fruit.
oregonwoodsmoke
12 years ago
I only top graft healthy trees. I'm afraid yours would be a goner in my garden.

I'd put something that is not a stone fruit in it's place, just in case whatever it is has gotten into the soil.
Related Discussions
Dwarf Peach Graft Care, and Pruning Question
Q
Comments (4)
I don't think I see any significant problems with the peach tree. The slight discoloration and oozing probably resulted from some minor mechanical injury. It looks like the tree has plenty of energy to push new growth below and above the graft. I planted lots of trees this spring that looked worse than that and are doing fine. Continue to remove any growth below the graft. You probably don't need to fertilize. It looks like the tree is mulched, and based upon the grass in the background, your soil is probably fertile enough for a new peach tree. Take care not to over-water your peach tree. Most literature instructs to avoid scaffolds below 18" for peach trees. The reason is for weed contol. It can be difficult to spray weeds when scaffolds are lower than 18". On peaches, I start my scaffolds as low as possible. I have some scaffolds that literally start at ground level. The reason is I want to keep the fruiting zone w/in arm's reach. I've found the higher the scaffolds start, the more difficult it becomes to keep the fruiting zone low and still get full crops. So far, weed control hasn't been that much more difficult with low scaffolds because I've primarily used mulch for weed control.
...See More
Cut down remove and replace peach tree?
Q
Comments (15)
I would have to disagree regarding cutting them down. It takes quite a few years to grow a peach tree to that size. They are fast-growing and early-fruiting, which is part of their downfall, however the root structure is more developed and can hopefully push new growth faster. If I were you I'd remove everything, leaving just the last branch, as peaches do not push new growth on the trunk like most other trees. This will hopefully give the tree a jump-start. If it doesn't work then so be it, but if it does you'll have plenty of fruit next year. The new shoots will have to be trained, but then you can remove the remaining old branch and trim to your liking. If you have room then plant a couple more of different cultivars, or maybe something different like pie cherries.
...See More
Saving peach tree with bridge graft?
Q
Comments (4)
Yeah, that's pretty much a mess. But I've had them as bad from deer "buck rub" and survive at least a few years. That is a very, very big gap to cover. Honestly long term, though, it will probably get some kind of rot and die in a couple of seasons even if it can compartmentalize this damage and survive for a while. That was the scenario on mine. I've had oh sooooooo many trees killed by Bambi over the past couple of decades, or at least damaged. I assume the back side of the tree has intact bark? It will survive that way at least long enough to ripen a crop if you have one this year. In my crazy horticultural mish-mash world, I say try it if you feel you must, because you don't have a lot to loose. But I have a thought for you. Rather than trying to bridge graft with bark, is there any possibility you could get your hands on a pretty thin, young, whip type peach tree, plant it on the damaged side, and do an inarch graft??? Also, fungicide is your friend at this point, I would dust the wound with something like Captan powder to help keep it clean, or even maybe Rootone F to promote healing. Once again, I have NO scientific proof this works, but I do it and it seems to work for me. Here is a link that might be useful: North Carolina State University extension brochure that shows inarch grafting
...See More
Peach Tree Just Planted. Questions and Comments on Peach Tree Growing
Q
Comments (8)
I have 3 peach trees. Contender which came grafted from a nursery, and two Indian Freestone peach trees. All 3 of my trees, I think are in their 4th year, this year. I had one peach last year -- just one on Contender. Here is a photo of one of the Indian Freestone trees from April 20. I grew the Indian Freestone trees from pits. By reputation they reproduce reliably, by seed. There is supposed to be enough genetic diversity that 2 such trees planted from seed near each other will cross-pollinate . . . Indian Free is one of the few peaches that requires a pollinator. The next one is Contender. The tree is more substantial as it was already grafted tree from a nursery planted in same year, but its flowers are not nearly as pretty. The fruit is good, though. I didn't see any honeybees this year. I see some fruit on the trees today less than the size of a pea, but some of the Indian Freestone buds are just dropping. I expect to get some fruit, just not nearly as many are setting as there were flowers. Less culling, but I'd rather cull fruit that are too plentiful than have sparse fruit.
...See More
Scott F Smith
12 years ago
That sounds like bacterial spot. It does not infect the trunk so I would just graft over it. I have done that several times and it worked fine. What you don't want to do is graft over a tree with bacterial canker or a root illness. Bacterial canker is when you get stuff oozing out of the bark.

The main problem with peach grafting is it is hard compared to other grafts to get good takes.

Scott
theaceofspades
12 years ago
Give that tree a good pruning and new growth will take off. And if it doesn't it was spent for whatever reason, canker, root illness. Chip bud in the fall and graft over the rest next season.
lycheeluva
Original Author
12 years ago
thanks for the advice

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Peaches and Nectarines

By Marianne Lipanovich

Make gardening a little sweeter with these juicy fruits, which you can eat after plucking or preserve for later

GARDENING GUIDES Garden Myths to Debunk as You Dig This Fall and Rest Over Winter

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Termites hate wood mulch, don’t amend soil for trees, avoid gravel in planters — and more nuggets of garden wisdom

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Crazy for Fruit Trees

By Marianne Lipanovich

Whether a single citrus or a mini apple orchard, even the smallest landscape space can bear deliriously delicious fruit

GARDENING GUIDES Tree Care: Common Tree Diseases and What to Do About Them

By Falon Mihalic

Learn to recognize trees that may be affected by diseases or pests so you can quickly take action

EDIBLE GARDENS Grow Plum Hybrids for Your Favorite Fruit Flavors

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plums are cozying up with apricots, peaches and even cherries — here’s how to grow these hybrids for the best aspects of each

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Add an Apple Tree to Your Edible Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Readily available, beautiful and fragrant, apple trees offer four-season interest along with crisp, juicy fruit

FARM YOUR YARD If You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...

Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate

GARDENING GUIDES Plant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Pretty Trees for Patios, Paths and Other Tight Spots

Choose trees for their size, shape and rate of growth — or shape them to fit your space. Here's how to get started

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Peach tree dead buds

2

beginning fruit or new leaves

6

What's causing this strawberry problem?

2

Is this a crabapple?

8

how to ripen Pyrus communis bosc pears

0