- 1). Spray your tree during its dormant period in late fall after the leaves have dropped. Use an approved fungicide such as fixed copper.
- 2). Add a horticultural oil to your fixed copper product to improve the effectiveness of the copper treatment. Use just 1 percent horticultural oil, such as mineral oil, cottonseed oil, neem oil or soybean oil.
- 3). Make Bordeaux mixture in the tree’s dormant season for maximum effectiveness against the fungus that causes nectarine leaves to curl. The classic formula for this mixture, which is not sold in stores, is 10-10-100, or 3 1/3 tbsp. of copper sulfate, 10 tbsp. of hydrated lime and 1 gallon of water.
- 4). Combine the copper sulfate, hydrated lime and water in a spray tank with an agitator if you use dry materials. Turn on the water to your spray tank and allow it to fill with about 1/3 gallon. Make sure the mechanical agitator is operating and then place a screen over the opening and measure the copper sulfate onto it. Wash it into the sprayer with additional water.
- 5). Combine the hydrated lime with about 1/3 gallon of water in a plastic bucket or other container that resists corrosion. Pour the lime solution into your sprayer and add more water, if necessary, to equal 1 gallon.
- 6). Coat the entire tree when you apply the spray.
- 7). Rinse your equipment thoroughly at least three times after you finish spraying. It helps to reduce the Bordeaux mixture’s corrosive effects if you add a small quantity of apple cider vinegar to your rinse water.
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