Peach tree leaf issue

[Tosc]

I noticed that the leaves on one of our peach tree looks infected with something, perhaps a fungus? During the past week the infected leaves have begun to go black and die. Anyone have thoughts on the cause and, hopefully, the cure? Pictures attached.

 

[Tetters]

That looks like Peach leaf curl. I found a link for you to look through.

Peach leaf curl / RHS Gardening

Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease of peaches, almonds, nectarines and occasionally apricots, which causes severely distorted leaves, making them fall prematurely.

www.rhs.org.uk

 

[cpp gardener]

There is no post-infection control. Just feed it so it can outgrow the infection faster and pick off the infected leaves. In the late winter/early spring as the buds swell, you can spray with copper to control initial infection.

 

[Mr_Yan]

How detrimental to the tree will leaf curl be? One of my trees has it bad while the other barely shows it - they're about 50 m apart. Am I risking the "good" tree or should I put the ax to the "bad" tree?

 

[cpp gardener]

If you treat them both with copper in the winter/spring you should be able to keep them both heathy. Is the healthier one a different variety? Resistance varies from variety to variety.