Knowledgebase
Peony Problems Galore! #486764
Asked September 24, 2018, 2:37 PM EDT
- Identifying the cause of the plant injuries
- Recommendations for fall and winter care (Treat? Cut? Remove?)
- Treatment options and when they will be most effective
Thank you kindly!
Oakland County Michigan
Expert Response
For both diseases the most important control measures are sanitation (cut the dead plant residues down to the ground and remove them in late fall or early spring before plants break dormancy) and using drip irrigation instead of overhead sprinklers when watering peony plants. You want to avoid wetting the foliage and providing a favorable environment for disease development.
a fungicide containing mancozeb ( Bonide mancozeb Flowable with zinc and Southern Ag Dithane M-45 are tow examples) applied when new shoots are 2-4 inches high and again weekly until the flowers open can be used if the disease has been severe, but be sure to include sanitation and attention to proper watering. for powdery mildew, use a fungicide with the active ingredient potassium bicarbonate or horticultural oil.