Advice on peach tree bought in clearance sale

[Heavenite]

Hi there,

I've been growing my own veg for a while, and am relatively confident, however I've recently started growing fruit trees (which seem to be doing alright). Whilst I was at the garden centre today, there was a peach tree on the clearance sale. As you might expect, it is looking a bit worse for wear, but for the price of it I figured I'd try giving it another lease of life.

I've attached some photos of the tree itself, and where the problematic areas might lie. I have read about pruning fruit trees, which is what I imagine is required (quite extensively?), but wanted some first hand advice if possible please on exactly what I should be aiming for. What looks to have been the fruit buds failed to open and the whole thing seems to be retreating in on itself. Should I give it a good feed and pruning?

Also, my apologies if this has been covered previously, I have done a search, but perhaps my keywords aren't the right ones as I struggled to find something. Sorry! Any advice is hugely appreciated.

Many thanks,

Solomon

[Guest]

Hi and sorry to be blunt but I am not good at the softly, softly, subtle approach. As much as most of us like a bargain and reviving the the poorly I think your tree has had it. Are you in the UK as I would expect a tree to be leafless in Nov. not July so it is already weak as it is not producing energy and the lack of green buds is concerning. The tree has dieback (the wrinkley branches) and all this combined I suspect peach leaf curl and the tree should not have been sold - clearance or not.

If you keep it. Cut out the wrinkley branches. Put it somewhere sheltered and don't let it dry out for periods of time. If you are lucky to get buds Feb./Mar time put it under cover and pick off and destroy any leaves with symptoms of leaf curl.

[Heavenite]

Cool. I honestly suspected it might be a no go, but thought I'd give it a gamble. Don't worry, I don't look for a softly, softly approach .

I'll give it a little while longer today, just to see if there's any more suggestions before I get gung-ho on it. Will give it a decent prune to where it looks mildly healthy (and probably a bit more for good measure) and see how it goes! Who knows, might be lucky .

Thanks for your response

[ESBkevin]

I agree the tree is in a poor and possibly unrescuable state. It should be smotherred in new growth and leaves, I've just pruned mine back a ways so I can see it.
Looking at the photos, the peach is grafted onto a rootstock, there is not muck 'good' growth above the graft but it just might be possible to hard prune back to any life above the graft and see if it wants to survive. In truth if there are no leaves for this year the tree is unlikely to survive through the winter (thats not a cert just the most likely). You could plant the pruned offering in a fertile location and apply the copper based spray or plant fungus control. Another treatment in the Autumn and try to keep the direct rain off it in the new year until it's well in leaf.
The odds are long, if you fancy the challenge be prepared to have a hard fall, but nothing ventured....

[Bigmallly]

Scratch a bit of the bark off with your fingernail, if it's green the plant is still alive, if brown then it's a gonna..............you have nothing to lose by keeping it in a sheltered spot out of the way & see if it picks up.

[BUFFS]

I would trim back each branch to two or three buds so it has less to maintain,a 4 hour deep soak and into a warm, dry, shaded spot.i have bought "bargains" like yours, some survive, some don't but I enjoy the challenge......just been out to my £3 aldi peach tree in a tub in the back greenhouse and the fruit look amazing (and the apricots), so I am just waiting for that lovely scent that tells me they are ready...

[Kirk]

I would dig a decent sized hole, add some compost to the soild you have dug out add some nutrient just to help things along and then put tree in hole and plant the thing.

Give it a good watering and add mulch if you have any then wait.

That pot looks too small, and likely it has dried out more then oncce and so shed it's leaves - just a possobility.
Branches actually look like they are alive. But get it out of the pot and into the soil where it should be.

[Bigmallly]

I think it is a Patio Peach, maybe Suncrest so is grown for pots but do agree that that pot looks too small for the plant.