Sick peach tree

[Imagination]

We planted this peach tree in our front yard a few years ago. The first year lots of peaches grew, fewer the second year, and none after. Last year we treated it for leaf curl. The leaves no longer appear curled, but sap is coming out of the undersides of medium sized branches. How can we help this tree?

 

[Mad Professor]

Might be perennial canker.

 

[Raintree]

Looks like scale, need better pictures.

 

[Imagination]

Here are more pictures. I'm worried that this tree isn't going to make it.

 

[Jackbnimble]

I wish I knew. Without lifting a finger a peach tree appeared in front of our house last year. Just a little fella. Today, it is 16 feet high and has so many small peaches growing on it I have had to remove many dozens of them to ensure we get only a few hundred beauties. The moral of the story? Become a bum like me and you'll be harvesting peaches for 30 years.

 

[Raintree]

Good job with the pics.
Looks like a heavy infestation of terrapin scale.
Link to general information on scale...
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/jmorgan/articles/page1520001364362

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Plus one on scale, a good dormant oil treatment should help it recover fairly quickly

 

[Imagination]

Thank you for the advice! I'll give the oil treatment a try and keep my fingers crossed!

 

[Mad Professor]

Get the light oil that is O.K. for application when plants are leafed out.

 

[ATH]

Most horticultural oil products I see are "all seasons" now. You just mix a different rate for summer and winter. Do NOT assume more is better as the winter rates will burn leaves

 

[Imagination]

Terrapin scale matches what I'm seeing, so we sprayed the peach tree with an all season oil as per directions on the bottle. How do I know it worked? The tree is already loosing leaves.

 

[Raintree]

The MOA of Hort. oil is suffocation, complete coverage is crucial.
Live scales will be juicy, dead will be dry.
This may take a few months.