Black Eyed susans being taken down by gross white blobs (grow, cacti)

[Stagemomma]

I noticed it last week on maybe 1/8 of the stems, but now it is almost 100%. The white sticky cottonish blobs are on the stems, the stems have turned brownish black, the leaves are just gone. This is not just a typical 'die off after blooming' kind of thing.

I tried googleing but all I found was powdery mildew which is splotches on the leaves. This is way grosser than that.

My question is, should I pull them out completely? or just cut them back to the ground? I don't want this thing affecting the plants I am planning to put in around the Susans. OR anything I would put in the hole after pulling them out.

It's a small patch, about the size of a turkey platter, and there is really nothing else in the bed but some cacti that i will likely give away. I was happy to plan around the susans but okay to do without, I can always grow more.

I am only a renter so I'm not investing a lot of time or money into this.

And I also just dont' have time to contact cooperative extension since I can't make phone calls from work. Y'all ARE my cooperative extension!

Thanks!

[ComeCloser]

It probably is the mildew. Try this inexpensive treatment:

You don't have to remove the entire plant unless its too far gone. Remove and destroy any effected vegetation. Thin plantings out for good air circulation.

Mix four tablespoons of vinegar in one gallon of water and spray onto the plants every three days.

[antinimby]

You must be talking about Woolly Aphids.

I usually kill them by hand by pinching them and crushing them. Yes, it is disgusting but I prefer not to use chemicals and I just wash my hands afterwards.

At first, they will come back but if you keep on killing them, eventually they give up and move elsewhere.

[Stagemomma]

That's what I'm saying...there is nothing left of the plant to treat. If I cut back the affected parts, I'll have roots. (and even then I don't know if they're affected. I guess I could put vinegar/water on the stubble....