Marianne's Response
What’s wrong with this peach tree?
My sister-in-law in Port Townsend has a small orchard of various types of fruit trees and her peach trees have never produced. The leaves are all curled up. The area where all her trees are planted used to be mostly sunny but are now shaded by tall (and growing taller) fir trees. What’s the problem with the peach trees?
Posted by Debbie Nighswonger on May 18, 2026
Marianne's Response
The image you sent shows a classic case of peach leaf curl disease. This is a fungal infection that occurs in damp weather, shade and poor air circulation. The fungus rarely kills the tree but will stop it from fruiting and cause slower growth. Treatment is best with a copper-based fungicide that is applied while the tree is dormant or leaf less in fall and early spring. Prune off infected leaves and branches to open up the tree and collect fallen leaves to stop reinfection. You may want to consider moving the tree or just getting rid of it. Even if you plant a disease resistant peach tree such as the variety 'Frost' this fungal infection is common in Western Washington where you live unless you want to commit to twice a year fungicide sprays. A blueberry bush would be a better choice for fruit in this area. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti
Search the Ask the Gardening Expert library
Looking for a quick resolution to your problem? Marianne has answered thousands of gardening questions. One may be similar to yours. Try searching our library to get the answer you need — fast!