What causes this on peach and nectarine trees?

[houndit]

Our two Nectarine trees and our two Peach trees have a curly sort of leaf. Do you know what causes it? Will it spread to other trees? Does it harm the tree? How do you get rid of it? Here are some pictures.

Thank you for any help you can offer!

 

[Rosalind]

That is a particularly fine example of Peach Leaf Curl. It is a fungal disease, yes it can harm the tree and yes if you have other peaches and nectarines they can get it too.

It's really too late to spray now, it won't help--just yank off the infected leaves and burn them to control how much fungus spores are left around. Be sure to thin the fruit well if it gets any fruit (looks like your tree may be too young for fruit yet? can't tell), put fertilizer on it now and about once a month throughout the summer to help it re-grow new leaves. In late autumn & early spring next year, during budding, spray fungicide--my book says lime sulfur works well.

 

[vfem]

^^^^^^^ Agreed!

 

[houndit]

Thank you very much!