"If I remove one branch of the "Y", wouldn't that destroy overall shape of the tree? I thought we need to train the tree to wine glass/ tulip shape?" Bluesky, That's the shape I like best and grow all my peach trees to an "open vase". I was really just brainstorming on how you might prune your peach tree. I've never tried to grow a peach next to a wall and I assumed yours may not be getting enough sun (partly because of the wall and partly because of the lack of vigor in the tree). My idea was to grow your trunk really tall (above the deck fence) before the tree is allowed to branch out, so all the foliage would be above the deck wall in full sun. Now that I understand your tree was planted in late summer, that's probably normal amount of growth and your tree may well be getting enough sun behind the deck wall. In that case, you could train it to a typical low vase/open-center tree and keep both branches of the "Y". You might want to train more of the tree's structure away from the deck fence. It makes for a lop-sided tree, but I've done it for some of my trees planted close to property lines in my backyard. One last thing, if you are going to train the tree to a low open-center, I'd probably pull the two branches of the "Y" down a little bit. Just take a couple clothes hangers, straighten them out and push them in the ground as far as you can (these will be anchors). Then bend the two branches down some (but not so far that they break) and tie the the branches down with some string.

The issue of the peach you are holding is internal. Notice there is no seed inside the pit, which is why it shriveled. As Fruitnut points out, freezing damage can cause this, which kills the seed, as well as PC, which can eat the seed in young fruitlets (although I don't see any larva in the peach you are holding). Either way, it has nothing to do with shot hole in the leaves, or gummy sap from the tree. Peach trees will naturally abort some of the smallest peaches (they shrivel and drop at about the size of the peach in your hand, or maybe a little smaller) but it should only be a small amount. A pic of the whole tree might offer more help. This post was edited by olpea on Sun, May 4, 14 at 11:15

The super simple calendar for a tree that has not started bearing fruit is prune in March, spray copper/oil just as the buds swell, fertilize in April by top-dressing with compost and a handful of 5-5-5 or similar, and mulch with wood chips out to the canopy size sometime in spring. During the growing season there is not much to do until the tree bears fruit. Once it starts bearing you will have a load of work and challenges. Do water the tree in dry spells. In the fall if the tree got some disease such as bacterial spot during the summer, spray copper again just after the leaves have fallen. There is probably no need to paint trunks white in the mid-atlantic, that is for sunnier places. I would not recommend tree guards as they can be home for pests. Some common mid-atlantic problems you should read up on for when the tree starts to bear include: plum curculio, oriental fruit moth, stink bugs, bacterial spot, brown rot, peach tree borer, squirrels, deer. All of these have been major problems for me at some point. There are many other things listed in the literature but its these "biggies" that will keep you busy. Scott

Thanks for the input. Is it your experience that peaches are thirstier than other trees? My concern is that it seems to use much more water than everything else. Also, any ideas on the leaf spots? I forgot to mention that they get water once a week 20 minutes from Nov-June and twice a week 15 min from July-Oct. When temps exceed 88 they get an extra 50%. I spaced the fruit about 6" but I allowed fruit closer if they were on alternating sides of a stem (i.e., growing away from each other). Is this ok, or should I prune more fruit? AFA the spraying goes I tend to go after everything in the edibles section early before the damage begins. The frequency is due to the very mild potency of this stuff, which is gone in a week, especially with the heavy dew we get overnight from now through June. We just get a lot of munchers here, especially caterpillars/worms/lopers. I will lay off the peach tree until I see something.