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Mon, Jun 2, 08 at 20:13
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My peonies (6 years old, full sun, unknown cultivar given to me by a friend) came up out of the ground as usual this year. They formed few buds and had a total of only 3 flowers. They are fairly covered with a white substance that looks like powdery mildew.
What is the appropriate thing to do? Cut them to the ground now? Spray them with fungicide? Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| It may be too advanced to help but I would spray now with Neem or Ultrafine horticultural oil. When the plant dies back in the fall I would remove all plant material to the garbage and spray the ground well with Bordeaux mix. In the spring when the growth first starts I would do the Bordeaux again. Al |
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| Have they had more blooms than that in the 6 years they have been planted? Besides what calistoga suggested above, might they need to be lifted and planted a little more shallow? Sue |
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| They have had dozens of flowers in the past several years, so the appearance of only three is a major change. If I wait til fall to cut them back, will they infect nearby plants? Would it be better to cut them back now? |
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| Your peony will survive if cut back now, and to prevent the spread of powdery mildew to other susceptible plants nearby that might be a good idea. Care should be taken to bag the mildewed plant material carefully to contain the spores. Now I would spray the cut back plant and the ground generously with a fungicide. Al |
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