Dying asters  on July 20, 2011 at 9:01 AM, updated July 20, 2011
at 9:08 AM  botrytis.marigold.JPGBotrytis disease on a marigold
flower.  Q: Last year I planted six 'October Skies' asters in
spring, and they did great all year, even through the blistering
drought. I liked them so much I planted more in the fall and
more this spring. All are doing well except for those I planted
last spring. At the end of June, they started browning from the
base to the top and ultimately dying. What is even more
perplexing is there is a patch 10 feet away doing fine. I'd like
to know A.) what is killing them, and B.) would it be unwise to
plant?     A: I'd put my money on botrytis stem rot (also
sometimes called gray mold or botrytis blight). It's a fairly
common soil disease and can strike a lot of plants besides just
asters.    Soil-borne diseases can take down a plant pretty
quick. They just turn brown all over and collapse from the death
of the roots.    Asters can get another disease called aster
yellows and also get att