Peony

klucas77

What is happening to my peony buds, they are not forming properly. Please can someone help.  I thought it was ants, they are covered in them, but the internet says not. Help... TIA

fidgetbones

Have you used a hormone weedkiller like lawn weed and feed nearby?  Or mulched with a new batch of farmyard manure (possible weedkiller contamination)

klucas77

No, I’ve not done anything different at all.  We moved here three year ago and it happens every year.  I get maybe 5 good flowers a year but the rest don’t open. 

BobTheGardener

There's a good list of problems here to look through:

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/peony-problems.aspx

I would say 'bud blast'.  However, given there are ants, those could be feeding off of sap-sucking insects such as scale, so worth checking for those.