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Peony problem

zippytiptopzippytiptop Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi All, 
My pink peony flower heads have 3/4 opened but as alot of wet brown damage on the  flowers  15 flower heads,  8 fully opened but what a mess. Any suggestions. Stems, stalks, leaves are  fine.  Thank you. I am in the  north of  UK, 

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Heavy rain will do that sometimes. Happens to some roses too, known as balling.
    Just one of the joys of British weather - though for all its faults it's preferable to what a lot of other people are getting!
    If you are very careful and have any thumbnails left  you could try gently opening the outer petals to release the inner ones. They are probably all right, but the poor flowers won't look as good as usual.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I often have to take those outer petals off as @Buttercupdays describes. They just get a bit 'stuck on', then you get rotting if they don't open up smoothly. 
    It's just that awkward weather - the buds want to open, but conditions prevent it at the very time you're expecting those big flowers. Mine were fine this year, but the weather was back to front in April and May which made it easier   :)  
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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