Autumn Pre leaf fall – Fungicide application

Now is the time to apply a pre leaf fall fungicide application, to peaches, nectarines and plums, in fact all Prunus species. Can also be used on your Quinces, Apples, Pears, Roses and Grape Vines. This is to combat Peach Leaf Curl (Taphrina deformans), Shot hole / Canker (Pseudomonas syringae), Black spot (Roses), Quince Leaf Blight (Diplocarpon maculatum) and Downy mildew (grapes).

I use Copper Oxychloride at a rate of 25g/5litres with a Adjuvant sticker/spreader at a rate of 10ml/5litres.

This Adjuvant sticker/spreader is basically a latex polymer liquid designed to improve spray deposition, coverage and rainfastness of agrochemical sprays. As you do not want the chemicals just to wash off the tree, with the next downpour of rain.

Copper Oxychloride is a fungicide that controls a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases on fruit, vegetables and ornamentals protecting the plant. Reports are that it may control ? fireblight.

You have to mix the Copper Oxychloride powder into a slurry first, otherwise you get a lumpy mix. You can also mix this with a pesticide at the same time, but do not mix with sulphur based compounds. Keep shaking the hand held sprayer as you can get separation of the heavy particles.

Application is via a hand held sprayer, until you get ‘run off’ of the leaves. Make sure you treat both sides of a tree including the trunk and underside of the leaves, and into every nook and cranny.

Spray again in mid winter, and early spring (before bud break). Make sure when you spray the weather conditions are dry and also for a day or 2 after application.

This treatment can be used for Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) and Pear Scab (Venturia pirina), but the generally recommended time is between when buds begin to break and a month after petal fall, and not during the dormant period.

In all instances read the instructions on the packaging of the chemicals.