Peony diseases: causes, symptoms, pest control methods, the best drugs

The peonies decorating many household plots are quite unpretentious and disease resistant. However, viruses, fungi and pests can harm plants if timely measures are not taken. It is necessary to act already at the first signs of the disease, and even better - to carry out preventive measures. With proper care, flowers will delight the eye for many years.

Grey Rot

Gray rot is one of the most dangerous diseases of peonies, because both buds and stems with leaves are susceptible to diseases. Diseased shoots wither, and in the process of illness, a gray coating appears on the plant, because of which the disease got its name.The development of the disease is favored by coolness, high humidity, precipitation, temperature changes.

Description

If the small buds turned black and fell off without opening, then the plant is affected by gray rot. The disease is caused by the fungus Botrytis (botrytis), the spores of which are contained in a gray fluffy coating covering the affected parts of the plant. In a diseased peony, young shoots wither, turn brown and break at the base. In flowers that have begun to open, the tips of the petals darken and dry out. Large brown spots appear on the foliage, the leaves curl and dry. Most often, black formations up to one and a half millimeters in size appear at the base of the peony, resembling grains.

Treatment and prevention

If the peony is already sick with gray rot, then the affected parts of the plant must be cut and burned. It is important that diseased shoots do not end up in the compost heap. There are no special preparations intended for the treatment of peony from gray rot, you can use antifungicides for other plants, but it is best to take preventive measures to prevent the onset of the disease.

Compliance with the rules of boarding and maintenance

For the he alth of plants, it is required to follow the rules of agricultural technology. The soil is regularly loosened and weeded, the flowers are watered. In case of close occurrence of groundwater, it is necessary to drain the site. Flowers should be planted in compliance with the distance, in no case thickening the planting, from year to year change the place of growth. Before planting plants, planting material and garden tools are disinfected.

Periodic application of deoxidizing additives to the soil

If the acidity of the earth is increased, then this contributes to the appearance of gray rot. Often acidic are heavy clay and loamy soils. Accordingly, it is required to add additives to the soil that will contribute to deoxidation.

Bone Meal

Bone meal effectively reduces acidity and saturates the soil with a large number of various trace elements and minerals due to its composition, which includes phosphorus, calcium, sodium, magnesium, iodine, cob alt, iron, manganese, zinc and copper. 300 grams of bone meal is applied to the soil of 1 square meter in preparation for planting peonies, this is enough for 2-3 years.

Dolomite flour

Flour is obtained by grinding to the smallest fractions of the mineral dolomite, which belongs to carbonates. Fertilizer not only neutralizes the acidity of the soil, but also enriches it with useful trace elements such as magnesium and potassium. Flour is applied no more than once every 3-4 years, and when calculating the required amount, the acidity and structure of the soil are taken into account. Dolomite can be added to the soil at any time of the year, as it does not prevent plants from absorbing other fertilizers

Limestone flour

Slaked lime (Ca(OH)) is also often used to normalize acidic soil. Compared to dolomite flour, lime is cheaper, more common in the market and is a stronger means of neutralizing acidity. But a strong effect also becomes a disadvantage of fertilizer, since immediately after application, it prevents plants from absorbing phosphorus and nitrogen.For this reason, lime is not applied immediately before planting flowers, but in early spring or when preparing beds for winter.

Mandatory and timely pruning

In preparation for wintering, peony stems are cut at the root. If the plant is sick in the summer, remove all affected parts of the flower. Pruning should be done only with a sharp tool, cut shoots should be taken out of the site or burned.

Limited use of nitrogen fertilizers

Nitrogen supplements are used to a limited extent, avoiding overdose. Excess nitrogen fertilizer leads to softening of the cell walls of the plant, which increases the risk of infection with gray rot.

Use of fungicidal preparations for disease prevention and suppression

Fungicides are drugs that help destroy harmful fungi. The substance was widely used in agriculture and floriculture for the prevention and treatment of affected plants. Fungicidal preparations are divided into contact ones, which kill fungal spores by direct contact with them, and systemic ones, which penetrate into the vascular system of the plant, providing prevention and curing a deeply penetrated infection.

Copper

For the processing of peonies, copper sulfate is diluted in a proportion of 50-70 grams per 10 liters of water. It is good to fight gray rot with Bordeaux liquid, which can be prepared as follows: 100 grams of copper sulfate is diluted with water and poured into a mixture of water and 75 grams of quicklime; the resulting solution is diluted with water to 10 liters.If you take the same amount of soda instead of lime, you get Burgundy liquid.

Fundazol

"Fundazol" is a contact and systemic remedy. To effectively combat gray mold, it is necessary to treat the plant twice. The drug is toxic, use should be avoided if there are small children or animals at home.

Colloidal sulfur

10 liters of water will require up to 100 grams of colloidal sulfur. Preventive treatment is performed three times with an interval of 10-12 days.

Rules of application

For the treatment of flowers growing near the house, the least toxic fungicides are used, for example, copper sulfate, copper oxychloride, Bordeaux or Burgundy liquid. If you choose the right moment for spraying, when the germinating spores of the fungus are most vulnerable, then the drugs will be quite effective. If the shoots get sick, the stems are cut at the root and the affected area is poured with a fungicide.

Timing

The first time peonies are treated with fungicides in the spring, when the active growth of the stems begins, on average this period occurs at the end of April. Repeated fungicidal preparations are used once or twice in 10-12 days, the number of applications depends on the weather and the degree of damage to the plants.

Alternating drugs

If you alternate different preparations, this will help to ensure that hazardous substances do not accumulate in the soil. In addition, alternate application helps to increase the effectiveness of the impact.

Different concentration depending on the age of the plant

The younger the plant, the lower the concentration of the drug should be, since there is a high risk of damaging fragile shoots. This is especially true for burning substances, such as copper sulphate. To achieve maximum effectiveness of fungicides with a minimum amount, the plant is not watered from above, limited to spraying.It is necessary to water with a watering can with small holes directly around the soil around the flower.

Fight against root rot

The common name for root rot refers to several diseases caused by different fungi, with the same symptom - damage to the roots, which turn brown, soften, emit an unpleasant odor. On the aerial part of the plant, the disease manifests itself in blackening and withering of the shoots. The same factors that favor the occurrence of gray rot contribute to the development of fungal spores, namely, increased soil acidity and weather humidity, lack of ventilation due to the density of growth, insufficient drainage of the site.

Using he althy planting material

When preparing planting material, the roots are carefully inspected and damaged ones are removed. To do this, cut off the rotten parts of the rhizomes with a sharp knife, treat with a mixture of two parts of crushed charcoal with one part of "Fundazol" or sulfur.Disinfection of rhizomes is carried out within half an hour with preparations such as copper sulphate, Fundazol or potassium permanganate.

Correct fit

The place for planting peonies should be chosen sunny, well-drained, it may be on a slight elevation. It is advisable to avoid the proximity of trees and buildings that obscure the plantings. The distance between the bushes should be about one and a half meters.

Use of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and trace elements

To prevent the roots of the plant from rotting, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used to strengthen the root system, which are applied after flowering is completed in preparation for wintering. Such top dressing will ensure abundant flowering next season and help increase the winter hardiness of the bushes. You can use drugs such as a mixture of "Kemira-combi" or potassium monophosphate.

Fungicides

When a plant becomes sick, the affected shoots are cut off, the root is dug up and the damaged parts are cut off. The sections are sprinkled with a mixture of wood ash and Fundazol, the bush is transplanted to a new place, and other plants are treated with fungicides for preventive purposes.

Copper vitriol

To treat flowers with copper sulfate as part of the fight against root rot, the drug is diluted at the rate of 5 grams of the substance per 10 liters of water. One square meter of land will take 5 liters of water.

HOM

HOM - copper oxychloride, helps with many fungal infections, including root rot. The drug, produced in the form of a powder, is dissolved in water and sprayed on the plant when the weather is dry and calm.

Rust and mottling

When a peony gets sick with rust, brown, orange and reddish spots appear on the leaves, in which spores of the fungus that causes the disease are located.Spotting manifests itself in the form of staining of leaf areas in blue, purple or light brown, while fungal spores are located at the bottom of the leaf. Sparse planting of peonies will prevent the spread of diseases

Collecting and burning diseased leaves

Plants should be inspected regularly for signs of disease. At the first sign, they take action, without waiting until the peony suffers even more, or the fungus infects the surrounding bushes. Leaves with spots that appear must be immediately collected and burned, otherwise the spores of the fungus will spread with the help of the wind and fall on other plants.

Spraying with a solution of fungicides and laundry soap

Treatment with antifungal drugs is carried out once a month or as it is washed off. Affected flowers are sprayed with the same fungicides that are used to combat gray mold.A pinch of washing powder or a solution of soap is added to the preparation, you can take household or toilet soap. The soap component will help the substance stay on the foliage.

Thorough autumn cleaning

Spores of the fungus overwinter on fallen leaves, so it is important to remove all plant debris. Organics are taken out of the site, trying to prevent infected leaves from falling into the compost heap, or they are burned.

Burning plant residues

Stems cut in autumn are best burned to eliminate the risk of fungal spores remaining on the leaves.

Viruses

Fungi predominate among the causative agents of various peony diseases, but viruses are also widespread. Peonies are affected by rattle, ring spot and mosaic. Viruses are transmitted by contact, so it is necessary to disinfect garden tools after working with diseased plants.

Mosaic

Mosaic got its name because of the coloring in the form of alternating yellowish small spots on the leaves of plants. The viral disease is easily transferred to the surrounding flowers, so if signs are found, immediate action should be taken.

Symptoms

When the disease appears, dark and light stripes alternate on the leaves, forming a characteristic mosaic pattern. Further development of the disease can lead to deformation of the leaf plates, thickening and cracks on the stems, and destruction of the roots.

Possible control measures

The disease cannot be treated, so the affected plant or parts of it must be removed. For several years, other peonies, bulbous plants, cucumbers, and potatoes should not be planted in place of the dug out plant.

Immediate plant destruction

When there is a large collection of peonies on the site, the mosaic quickly spreads to all plants, if the diseased bush is not isolated. In the case when there are only a few plants, they can be left, but not used for further propagation. The affected flower is dug up and burned, in no case should the diseased plant be placed in the compost heap.

Removing wounded stems and dusting with ash

When signs of disease are found on the leaves, the shoot is cut off and the cut site is treated with ash or activated charcoal. In case of recurrence, the plant is completely destroyed.

Avoid varieties susceptible to this disease

To prevent the emergence and development of viral diseases of peonies, it is best to purchase seedlings in licensed stores, giving preference to varieties that are less susceptible to disease.

Rattle

Another name for the virus that was often used in the past is "peony ringspot virus". The first signs of the disease can be seen in late spring - early summer.

Signs of defeat

The main sign of damage is the appearance of spots in the form of rings on the leaves of the plant. They are located between the veins. The disease can also manifest itself in the form of yellow-green stripes on the foliage or a marble pattern when rings and stripes are combined.

Severity depending on variety

Hybrids are most susceptible to the virus, in particular, American double peonies. In this case, first-generation varieties may not show the disease in any way.

Powdery mildew

The disease most often appears in adult plants. Doesn't cause much harm, but control measures still need to be carried out.

Signs

Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on the top of the leaf plate. The buds are deformed, the leaves wither, dry up and fall off.

Treatment

Powdery mildew is fought by spraying the affected peonies twice with a solution of soda ash with an interval of 10 days. When processing, laundry soap is added to the soda. Figon is also effective against powdery mildew.

Verticillium wilt

Refers to fungal diseases. The causative agent hibernates in the roots, so it is difficult to get rid of the disease. Peonies are usually affected during the flowering period.

Symptoms

The main visible sign of the disease is that flowering shoots begin to wither for no apparent reason. The bush turns yellow, dries up and dies. If the stem is cut, darkened vessels will be noticeable.

Methods of struggle

It is impossible to cure a plant. The affected peony is dug up, capturing the adjacent earthen ball along with the root system. The soil at the site of the extracted flower is disinfected by filling it with formalin or bleach.

How to get rid of pests

Pests not only spoil the appearance of peonies due to eaten dried leaves and deformed buds, but also significantly harm the he alth of the flower, up to complete death. In this regard, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant, manually collecting visible beetles and larvae, dig up the soil, weed the site, add substances preventing the spread of parasites into the soil in spring and autumn.

Knot nematode

With the advent of nematodes, the peony bush begins to lag behind in development and stops flowering, the leaves and shoots turn yellow and wither. Signs of nematode activity can be confused with manifestations of other diseases, the difference is the appearance of yellow and brown thickenings on the roots.

Description

Kall nematodes are microscopic roundworms up to 2 mm long. The parasites got their name because of the round formations, similar to balls with a diameter of 3 to 5 millimeters, galls that appear on the roots of the plant. Pests multiply in these balls and then spread in the soil to other roots.

Possible carriers

Nematodes can live on the roots of many flowers and trees. Of garden plants, lilies, peonies, clematis, daffodils, gladioli, and irises most often suffer. But the pest is omnivorous, so it can infect a variety of plants.

How to fight

The most reliable way to deal with the parasite is to destroy the plant whose root system is damaged. The excavated bush is burned, and the soil in the area where the flower grew is disinfected with a formalin solution.In no case should an infected flower be placed in a compost heap. In the early stages, drugs "BI-58", "Rogor" can help.

Careful inspection of planting material

To prevent the spread of the pest, the root system of the flower is carefully inspected before planting. So you can notice the parasites in time and prevent infection of other plants with root-knot nematodes.

Regular weeding

An obligatory measure against root-knot nematodes is the removal of weeds, on the root system of which the parasite can successfully develop, subsequently infecting cultivated plants. Organic residues are burned to prevent the spread of pests.

Ants

Ants can damage peony buds by gnawing petals, breed aphids on plants, and are also carriers of fungal diseases.Purchased preparations are used to fight insects, but there are also gentle folk methods: the stem is rubbed with garlic, a vaseline ring trap is arranged around the shoot, sweet baits are placed nearby, or plants with a pungent odor are planted to repel ants.

Aphid

Aphids weaken the peony as they drink the juices of the plant. If there are not very many pests, they are collected by hand or knocked down with a stream of water. They get rid of a large number of parasites with the help of "Fitoverma" or "Aktellika", processing according to the instructions.

Bronze Beetles

Most types of bronzes have a color with a characteristic metallic sheen, for which they got their name, but there are beetles and other shades. During the summer season, pests can eat peony buds. Eliminate bronzovok mechanically, collecting manually in the morning, when the insects are still motionless, or in the evening, luring the beetles with a light source.If the number of insects exceeds 15 every day when collecting, it is required to spray the bushes and soil with folk remedies or insecticides.

Maybugs

Adult insects eat leaf plates and buds, but the larvae that damage the roots are much more dangerous. Biological products such as Nemabakt, Aktofit, Boverin, Fitoverm are considered the best way to deal with the parasite, since they are effective and do not harm the environment. During the autumn and spring digging of the site, the larvae are selected manually. Experienced gardeners, in order to drive away May beetles, treat plants and beds with a solution of ammonia, infusion of onion peel, potassium permanganate.

Preparations for combating diseases and pests

An effective way to combat diseases and pests of peonies is to treat plants with chemicals in the spring-summer season. When using chemicals, remember that they can harm surrounding plantings and beneficial insects, and use them with care. We must not forget about personal protective equipment so as not to harm our own he alth. The drugs are used according to the instructions on the package, exceeding the dose can damage the plants.

Copper oxychloride (HOM)

Copper oxychloride is used to combat sulfur and root rot caused by the pathogen Botrytis. A solution of the product is poured over a peony bush under the base, repeating the treatment after 10 days.

Copper vitriol

If the plant shows signs of a disease caused by the fungus Botrytis, a bush is sprayed with a half-percent solution of copper sulphate and watered under the root.

Alirin

Alirin will help against late blight. The substance is added before planting the peony in the ground, and also watered with a solution of 1 tablet in 1 liter of water several times during the season. The same measure is effective against root rot. Peonies are sprayed several times with a solution of the drug to get rid of powdery mildew, late blight and gray rot.

"Maxim"

You can prevent the appearance of gray and root rot with the help of the drug "Maxim". The part of the stem with roots prepared for planting is soaked in the solution for half an hour. During the season, "Maxim" watered the soil at the rate of 2 ml per 1 liter of water.

Fitosporin M

If planting material and soil are treated with Fitosporin M before planting peonies, then rot, rust and powdery mildew can be avoided. Fix the result by spraying the plant in the summer.

"Agat-25K"

Before planting peonies, the soil is treated with Agat-25K, which prevents the appearance of powdery mildew, spotting, and also fights the Botrytis fungus. To avoid these diseases in the summer, the bush is sprayed with a solution of the drug.

Alirin B

"Alirin B" is used as a prevention of root rot and pion late blight. To do this, the drug is applied to the soil of the flower garden before planting.

Gamair

Before the flowering of peonies, as well as after its completion, the plant is sprayed with the drug "Gamair". Thus, the occurrence of spotting and powdery mildew is prevented. In addition to spraying, the bushes are watered with a solution of the product.

Topaz

Topaz will help against peony diseases caused by fungi. When the plant has already become infected, and the degree of damage is strong enough, you will need to spray the bush. At the beginning of the season, prophylaxis is carried out by spraying the peony twice with a solution of the drug at a lower concentration.

Falcon

To prevent infection with rust, powdery mildew, black spot and rot, the peony bush is sprayed with Falcon diluted in water. If, nevertheless, the plant is sick, the leaf plate is treated on both sides with the same preparation.

Fufanol

The drug "Fufanol" will help get rid of parasites. The peony is sprayed by dissolving the chemical in water.

"Iskra"

If ants damage the peony, the plant can be treated with Iskra. The tool is also effective against beetles and caterpillars. The bush is sprayed, diluting the drug according to the instructions.

Karbofos

In order for the peony not to suffer from insects, they are destroyed with the help of Karbofos. When parasites appear, the bush is sprayed with a solution at the rate of 30 grams of product per 5 liters of water.

Potassium permanganate

Planting material is sprayed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate before planting in the ground. Such processing acts as a preventive measure.

Peonies are beautiful and rather unpretentious flowers. Among the many varieties, you can choose the color of the buds for every taste. To enjoy the sight of a he althy plant, it is necessary to recognize diseases in time and help the bush fight them.

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