• Almond trees don't fare well in Texas.Almendruco 1 image by Maximo Sanz from Fotolia.com
  
  Almond trees are not well adapted to Texas. One problem, according to Texas A&M University, is their blooming season. It occurs too early in spring when there’s still the risk of frost. Often the flowers freeze before they can produce the almond fruit, a stone fruit with characteristics similar to the peach. In addition, these trees are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections, as well as insects, present in the state.
  
  

Brown Rot

• The fungus Monilinia fructicola causes brown rot, a disease that affects blooming flowers and fruit. Affected blossoms will wilt, looking as if they were wet, and become brown as spores begin to cover them. When the fungus infects almonds, the fruit might rot in just two days. Removing all affected parts on the tree and discarding them immediately is one to way to prevent the spread of the disease. Fungicide applications when the almond tree begins to bloom also inhibit fungal development.
  
  

Catfacing Insects

• This group includes several insects, such as squash bugs, leaffooted bugs and stink bugs. They scar Texas stone fruits as they feed on them. These insects have different habits. The stink bug, for instance, transfers to almond trees from nearby succulent weeds and drill into the fruit for nourishment. The almonds might drop early as a result. Catfacing insects will overwinter and continue to inflict damage on the tree the following spring, unless pesticide kills them.
  
  

Plum Curculio

• Plum curculio is a destructive beetle that makes an entrance hole in the almond fruit to lay its eggs inside. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on the fruit. An almond fruit suffering from a plum curculio larvae infestation will show a half-moon-shaped scar on its skin, where the eggs were laid. The fruit might become deformed or drop off the tree. This beetle overwinters and is a difficult pest to control, according to the Michigan State University Extension.
  
  

Scab

• Scab is a fungal infection that occurs throughout the world and attacks branches, leaf stalks and the almond fruit, creating a greasy black spot on them. As a result, all leaves might fall off a tree in a short period, which leads to crop loss for that year. While the fungi that cause scab have become resistant to some of the fungicides available, liquid lime sulfur still works to prevent defoliation.