(January. 2004)Over the years, we have written at length about peony culture, but this is the first time we have used graphics to document what needs to be done in late summer or early fall, depending on where you garden. In four photographs taken in our own garden, you will discover what must happen to your peony at the end of summer when disease overtakes the perennial. Even if no disease is evident at this time, peonies must be pruned to the soil, the soil sanitized, and all mulch removed. Peonies should not be mulched for the winter!
Photo #1:
First, in a picture taken October 1, 2003, botrytis (bo-try-tis) disease has overtaken all peony foliage. This disease invariably starts with foliage at the base of the plant, then rises along stalks and shoots. In the process, chlorophyll disappears from the leaves and quickly stops the production of life-supporting sugar (glucose). Note the aluminum siding on this east side of the home because you will see another picture soon after in the same location.
Photo #2:
Again, this picture was taken October 1, 2003. When a peony goes kaput in late summer, this is a close-up of foliage destroyed by botrytis disease. With the entire plant just laden with botrytis spores, you can imagine prospects for the disease overtaking the peony next year. With odds like this, it’s no wonder many peonies seldom if ever get around to flowering in May-June.
Photo #3:
This picture was taken October 1, 2003, minutes after the peony had been pruned to the ground. Not one piece of debris is showing because everything was pruned, picked up and added to recycling bags for sanitation pickup. Notice the aluminum siding in the rear where the peony once stood.
Photo #4:
The soil having been bared of the old peony, we applied “dolomitic lime” atop the soil where the first peony shoots will surface the last hours of March, 2004, or the first days of April. Remember, peonies need a soil pH between 7-7.5 to flower spectacularly. Still to be spread over the site this winter is a half-inch to an inch layer of sharp sand (washed sand, builder’s sand) to cover the soil around the peony site. This thin layer of sand prevents botrytis disease spores from being airborne come spring to infect pink-red peony shoots as they emerge from the soil. Take time to lay down this layer of sand before spring growth emerges from the soil.
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