By Jessica Barnes, County extension agent for horticulture
If you are one that has peach and plum trees, late fall and winter is the time to control peach leaf curl and plum pockets. Control for these diseases must be done before the buds start to swell, which can happen even in January if we have abnormally warm weather. Both of these diseases are closely related and caused by a fungus. Infection from these diseases can cause defoliation, distortion of leaves, weakened trees, and reduced fruit quality, set and yield.