Over our many years of growing fruit, we’ve seen just about every fruit tree leaf problem you can imagine—curling, yellowing, spots, holes, and even leaves mysteriously dropping off altogether.

Some issues are harmless, while others can signal serious trouble for your trees and future harvests. We’re here to help you figure out the difference. We’ve even created a Quick Leaf Problem Identification Guide for you!

It covers the common leaf issues you’re likely to see to help you diagnose and fix leaf problems quickly, so your trees stay healthy and productive.

Common Leaf Problems

Different types of fruit trees tend to experience leaf problems for different reasons. For example, curly leaves on peach and nectarine trees are usually caused by a disease called, (unsurprisingly), Leaf Curl.

A lot of gardeners are surprised to learn that Leaf Curl disease only affects peaches and nectarines. If you’ve noticed curly leaves on other trees, they are caused by something else. Some of the most common causes are:

• pests (aphids are one of the most common),
• lack of water, or…
• too much water (confusing, right?),
• nutritional problems.

Many causes of leaf problems occur on multiple tree types. However citrus, apple, and plum trees all have specific issues that can cause leaves to become curled, yellow, or otherwise blemished.

When to Worry about Leaf Problems

Not all leaf problems are cause for panic—some, like leaves changing colour in autumn, are completely natural. But if you notice sudden changes, like excessive leaf drop, severe curling, unusual spots, or rapid yellowing, it’s time to investigate.

Yellow leaves can signal many possible causes for your attention, from lack of water to nutrient issues. And the potential causes don’t stop there! Leaf issues can also be an early warning sign of problems such as pests, diseases, or environmental stress.

If your tree’s overall health or fruit production seems affected, or if symptoms are spreading quickly, it’s best to take action sooner rather than later. Catching problems early can mean the difference between a minor fix and a full-blown tree crisis!

Seasonal Leaf Issues Guide

Spring 🌿

This is when fruit trees burst into life, and their leaves should be vibrant green, and healthy. Deciduous trees (like apples, pears, and peaches) will produce fresh new leaves after being bare all winter, while evergreen trees (like citrus, olives, and avocados) will continue growing new leaves alongside older ones. Spring is the powerhouse of the fruit season! Any curled, discolored, or stunted new leaves at this stage are likely to indicate a problem, so it’s a key time to pay attention. Keep an eye out for emerging fungal diseases, which thrive in the warmer, damper conditions of spring.

Summer ☀️

Leaves should be full, lush, and deep green, actively photosynthesizing to support fruit development. Deciduous trees may show slight yellowing or curling in extreme heat but should remain mostly healthy if well-watered. By the end of summer, many leaves may be starting to look tatty from general wear and tear.  Evergreens should maintain thick, waxy leaves, though some older leaves may naturally drop. Watch for signs of heat stress, sunburn, or pest damage, which can appear as scorched edges, wilting, or sticky residue.

Autumn/Fall 🍂

This is the transition period. Deciduous trees will start turning shades of yellow, red, or brown as they prepare to drop their leaves—this is normal and not a concern, and the leaves can be used to add organic matter to your soil. However, early or patchy yellowing might indicate nutrient deficiencies, disease, or lack of water. Evergreens will remain green but may shed some older leaves as part of their natural cycle.

Winter ❄️

Deciduous trees will be completely bare, conserving energy for spring. Any lingering leaves that are shriveled or spotted may be a sign of disease, and winter pruning is the perfect time to remove them. There should be no leaves left on the ground by the time new leaves emerge in spring. Evergreens should still have a full canopy, though growth will slow. Some slight yellowing of older leaves is normal, but widespread discoloration or leaf drop in an evergreen could signal cold damage, root problems, or nutrient deficiencies. It’s common for citrus trees and other evergreens to experience some yellowing of leaves in cooler climates.

Maintaining Fruit Trees to Prevent Leaf Problems

There are many different potential reasons for problems with the leaves on your fruit trees. You might be surprised to learn that the common thread beneath them all is soil health. Healthy soil acts like the immune system for your tree.

If your trees are growing in healthy soil (whether in the ground or a pot), many leaf problems will disappear or not happen in the first place.

When we first converted our farm to organic production in 2008 our fruit trees had every problem under the sun! Our leaves were ravaged by diseases, spots, holes, and lots of pest insects.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover that as our soil gradually improved through the use of compost and a worm farm, many of the problems we had started to disappear. The trees seemed to attract fewer pests, and we even discovered that compost tea can help to fix yellow leaves.

We’ve seen firsthand that looking after the soil will create the right conditions for your trees to have strong, shiny, healthy leaves.

Need more help? Check out more fruit tree leaf resources

Grow Great Fruit Program

Are you worrying about the leaves on your fruit trees? Let’s get to the bottom of that—and set you up for your best fruit-growing year yet.

In the Grow Great Fruit program, we help you tackle leaf problems and we give you skills to grow healthier trees and bigger harvests across your whole orchard.

Each week you get a checklist of seasonal jobs to prevent issues before they start. There are step-by-step videos and guides on pruning, pest and disease prevention, and every other fruit growing topic.

Need answers? The Members Forum is full of answered questions from other growers who’ve been in your shoes. And Premium members get personal answers to questions from us for quick, expert support.

Let’s get your fruit trees thriving—this season and beyond.