Homeowner's Guide to Pests of Peaches, Plums and Pecans

peaches, plums, nectarines and pecans. Homeowners who grow these fruit trees can more easily identify the problems and select the proper control methods if they are familiar with insect pests and diseases, their life cycles and the damage they cause. Because such problems vary from one area of Texas to another and from one year to the next, it is important that you keep records of pest and disease occurrences. These records can help you make wise control decisions, such as on the timing of pesticide applications. Plant diseases are most severe in periods of frequent rain or dew and mild temperatures (75 to 85 degrees F). Early-maturing peach varieties are more likely to be affected by brown rot than are late-maturing varieties; late varieties are often damaged more by peach scab. Insect infestations are not as dependent on weather as are diseases. Most insect pests are monitored by visually inspecting trees for insects or their damage. Traps baited with pheromones can be used to monitor activity of the pecan nut casebearer and the lesser peach tree borer. Cultural practices Healthy plants can survive some insect and disease damage better than can stressed plants. Trees grow best if you select adapted disease-resistant varieties, plant them in a suitable site, follow a well-balanced fertility program, and irrigate and prune as needed. It’s important to clean up and dispose of plant residue to reduce the damage from peach scab, plum curculio, hickory shuckworm, and brown rot of peach. Diseased material that is properly composted can be recycled as mulch or organic material.