How to Keep Insects from Growing in Peach Trees
The taste of a ripe golden peach fresh from the tree is a sure sign that summer is in full swing. But left untreated, peach trees are subject to a infestation that targets the tasty fruit from the moment a peach blossom opens. Ridding a peach tree of insects requires timing, knowledge and close attention during all seasons. Prepare for an insect-free harvest before the fruit sets on the tree. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Treat your peach trees in late winter before the new buds begin to form to kill over-wintering peach twig borers that will eventually become small brown moths. Look for small, chimney-shaped cocoons that sit upright on young branches.
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Use dormant oil, a form of refined petroleum, to spray your peach trees before the tiny buds appear. Dormant oil kills over-wintering insects and larvae. Most dormant oils on the market come in concentrated form so you should dilute them with water before spraying on the peach trees (See Resources).
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Watch for twig flagging (twig tips turning brown and falling off) during the bloom season. If you didn’t treat your peach trees with dormant oil in the winter, you may see the ends of young twigs dying back a few inches from the tip. When this occurs, the tender stems are dying from the inside out as twig borers feast upon them.
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Prune the ends of all twigs that show signs of flagging. Once the borer is actively eating the green wood, the only way to successfully treat the tree is to cut off the affected twig ends. On anything more than one or two peach trees, this is labor intensive and unfeasible for most peach growers, reinforcing the need to use dormant oil in the winter.
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Look for a small moth with a dusty blue body that measures around 1 inch in length, with translucent yellow wings. During the time your peaches are approaching their full flavor and ripeness, another borer may visit your crop. The greater Peach Tree Borer (PTB) visits the tree and lays eggs near the stem of the fruit.
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Spray the peach trees with Lorsban, a federally regulated insecticide that effectively kills PTB before harvest. Contact your local farm extension agency for the proper time to spray in your region. Lorsban offers a broad spectrum of insect control but depending on the regulations in your state, you may have to register before purchasing (see Resources).
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Tips & Warnings
The best advice for controlling insects on peach trees is to treat them every winter with dormant oil and spot treat with a broad-spectrum insecticide during the growing season.
Lorsban is toxic to animals and humans. Consult the label for the proper application method.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo, curtesy of Stock.xchng
