| My peony bushes have a tendency to have parts of the plant turn black. On the smaller plants, the darkened part of the bush easily pulls out of the ground. What should be done? |
| The symptoms sound like a fungal disease. If the shoots suddenly wilt and fall over, and show signs of black tissue, its probably Sclerotinia. The fungus overwinters in the soil and attacks plant parts as they emerge. It would be best to remove and destroy the affected plants and put new peonies in a different location. |
