Question
Help!  Every single one of my peonies have Botryitis.  They all have big, brownish black spots.  Should I put copper on them?  If I cut out the spots, I won't have many leaves left.  Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Sherry,
I would remove all of the affected areas of the plant and then cut it all the way back to the ground in the fall.  Here is an excellent article on the problem from Virginia Tech.  I hope this helps.

http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/plantdiseasefs/450-602/450-602.html

Tom