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Peony buds

Enthusiasticamateur89Enthusiasticamateur89 Posts: 9
in Problem solving
Hi all, me again.

I have a peony, Felix croussoix, which I planted last year.  It's grown well this year and I have 3 buds on it.  The ants have loved it for a couple of months which is a good sign but my buds are yet to open and I have these strange black 'beads' which the ants seem to be interested in.  Are they a pest larvae or something to do with the ants?  What should I do about them, leave them? Spray with some concoction? And do you think the buds will open this year or is it unlikely with it being the first year?

Thanks again

K

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They’re aphids,  you can rub them off with your fingers. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The ants take honeydew from the aphids. Ants on your flowers are not a good sign.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Possibly the ground around the peony is a little dry so ants are happily nesting there and farming the aphids … tip a bucketful of water gently around the base of the plant a couple of times a week for the next couple of weeks … more if we get a real drought. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Enthusiasticamateur89Enthusiasticamateur89 Posts: 9
    edited June 2023
    fidgetbones said:
    The ants take honeydew from the aphids. Ants on your flowers are not a good sign.
    I've seen on many sites (gw included) that say ants are beneficial to peonies which is why I've not been bothered by them.  I know that ants will protect aphids as I have been vigilant with my new rose bushes and 🤞 haven't seen any on them yet.  I will keep a closer eye on them in the future.
  • Enthusiasticamateur89Enthusiasticamateur89 Posts: 9
    Thanks everyone.  As per the suggestion of @Dovefromabove I have tipped a bucket of water around the base.  I have jetted the beggars off the buds and also sprayed with a rose protector which says it kills aphids. 🤞It works.  
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