As long as they grow happily and bloom happily at Pentecost, everything is fine. But when individual buds dry up, leaves get spots or even the entire plant dies, worry lines spread on the forehead. What disease can this be and how can the peony be helped now?

Peony diseases should be treated as soon as possible

Gray mold - occurs most often

Fungal diseases are the biggest threat to peonies. They are quite susceptible to infestation if care is neglected and/or they are in an unsuitable location. Peonies often fall prey to gray mold.

Gray mold tends to appear in spring when the weather is humid and warm. He can be recognized by:

  • brown, dried up buds that don't open
  • rotting stalks
  • in bush peonies: whole shoots become wilted

What should I do? The diseased shoots should now be cut back to healthy wood. In perennial peonies, the diseased stems are removed to the base. The clippings are disposed of with household waste.

The leaf spot disease - easy to recognize

Leaf spot disease can also occur. It can be recognized by large, light brown to violet-brown spots that grow in size and spread over the entire leaf. As a result, the affected leaves dry up and growth becomes weaker. Fungicides help here, but it would be more ecological to simply cut off the affected areas.

The wilt disease - in rare cases

Peonies are much more rarely affected by wilt disease. This disease, which manifests itself in dying roots, occurs more often when the soil is exhausted. This is the case, for example, when peonies are placed in the same location over and over again.

Preventing diseases - how?

You can prevent the infestation of diseases by taking various measures. Here some of them:

  • plant in a sunny and airy spot
  • if possible, do not transplant
  • fertilize regularly
  • water when it is hot and dry
  • cut with a clean tool
  • remove old foliage
  • remove faded flowers

tips

It is best to cut perennial peonies in autumn. Otherwise, fungal pathogens could overwinter on the old parts of the plant and spread again in the spring.

Category:

Vegetable garden