Question: Two of my peony plants, always strong and healthy, came up odd last spring. The previous fall I had mulched the bed with cow manure, could it have burned the tops? Would the tree peony be suitable for Nebraska climate? E.M., Nebraska.
Answer: The trouble with your peonies is probably due to some cause other than the manure mulch. It may be root-gall or crown-gall. If the poor condition persists, discard the plants entirely or at least dig them up in early fall, dust with sulfur and transplant only the healthy parts to a new location. Whether the tree peony thrives in Nebraska, I do not know. For this I refer you to the county extension agency.
