Marianne's Response

How do I fix my Peony and Camellia plants?

1. Looks like I can upload only one photo, so this one is missing. Leaf on a smaller size camellia, growing in a container. It may have been labeled dwarf, not sure but will remain much smaller than full size plant. Is this a fungus? Should I spray or just remove affected leaves?
2. Peony story. I planted 5 peonies spring of 2017 – they did great for 4 years. Then last year and again this year, one is fine, but the other 4 begin to emerge in spring but fail to grow and thrive. Stunted and then die back. In addition I have one other much older plant (was here in garden before I moved in) and it too is behaving the same. Emerges in spring and fails to thrive. I posted photos on a Facebook Peony page last spring and got no replies. I am stumped. Is there anything I can to do save and reverse this?

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Posted by Julianne Jansen on July 8, 2022

Marianne's Response

Sounds like your peonies could have peony leaf blight.  The prevention of this is to cut back all peony foliage to the ground in the fall when the leaves turn yellow. Do not cut now.  Also feed with a slow release plant food like Osmocote in the spring when you see new growth. The other tip I have is to pull away all the wood chip mulch from on top of the peony roots. Peonies will not bloom if they are planted too deep . The growth point or eye needs to be just below the surface of the soil. Often they are at the correct depth until a mulch is added smothering the roots. I suspect this happened to your peonies.  As for the camellia remove any infected leaves and try to give the plant better drainage. Do not let it sit in drainage water and only water when the soil feels dry. Both the camellia and peony are tough plants and I am confident they will survive and do much better next spring. Keep growing Marianne Binetti

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