Because of its stunning spring and early summer flowers and appealing leaves all year long, peonies are well-liked perennials. For herbaceous peony (USDA Zones 38), which totally wither to the ground in the winter, follow these recommendations. Tree peonies, which resemble shrubs and have woody stems that are always visible (Zones 49), have slightly different needs.
Herbaceous peonies should be planted in the fall, when they are dormant. Peonies that are planted in the spring may not bloom for a number of years, and if they sprout new shoots before setting down strong roots, they may even perish. In the fall, mail-order and neighborhood nurseries sell bare-root divisions. A part of the rooted crown with multiple dark red growth buds known as eyes makes up a bare-root peony division. Every bud in the spring sprouts a stem. Look for a division with at least 3 to 5 eyes because the more eyes a division has, the fuller it will appear.
Fall is the best time to plant bare-root herbaceous peonies.
1. Select a location with well-drained soil that is far from competing tree and shrub roots. Give each plant a three-foot-diameter area to grow in. Because peony stems are prone to breaking when heavy with buds and blooms, avoid windy regions or provide a windbreak. In most places, a setting with direct sunlight is ideal. If your springs are often warm and dry, pick a location with afternoon shade.
2. Make the soil ready. Peonies bloom most profusely when allowed to grow undisturbed in the same spot for many years, therefore it’s crucial to put them in well-prepared, enriched soil. Make a planting hole that is 18 inches deep and 2 feet wide. Compost or well-rotted manure should be incorporated into the hole’s bottom with multiple shovels. Add dirt, additional compost, and a cup of bonemeal to the hole halfway. Also incorporate roughly a cup of ground limestone if your soil is acidic. pH levels of 6 to 7 are ideal for peonies.
3. Place the peonies. Setting the division too deep prevents blossoming; only 1.5 to 2 inches of soil should cover the eyes. Position the eyes so they will be just.5 to 1 inch below the soil surface if you garden in an area with a mild winter. This will expose the roots to as much winter cold as feasible. After setting the peony in the hole, firmly yet carefully pack soil over the roots. Verify that there are no air gaps that can permit the plant to root too deeply.
4. Use a hose to water the plant with a soft stream. After that, surround it with a light mulch, like chopped leaves or evergreen branches, to help control soil temperature and moisture and lessen weed competition. In order for the plant to fully cool, mulch should be removed in the winter. The first year the peony may not bloom, but by the third year it should be in peak condition.
What time of year is ideal for planting peonies?
- Keep plants neat by deadheading and prune as needed (herbaceous only).
- When peonies become congested and produce fewer blooms, divide the plants.
- When the blossoms feel like soft marshmallows, cut the stems for bouquets. Water should contain Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers.
When the peonies blossom, you can finally start to feel the arrival of summer. Around Memorial Day, when spring bulb flowers are starting to fade and summer blooms are beginning to emerge, these stunning perennials bloom profusely. Peonies are resistant to deer and rabbits, which is useful for gardeners who frequently experience issues with animals eating their plants. Peonies are frequently seen blooming despite years of neglect if you drive through old cemeteries or abandoned farmsteads. That is because to how simple peony are to grow!
How to Choose Peonies
Peonies come in four different varieties. They are forest peonies, tree peonies, herbaceous peonies, and intersectional peonies, in the order of blooming time. Herbaceous peonies, which thrive in zones 3–7, and tree peonies, which flourish in zones 3–9, are the two most popular varieties. Herbaceous plants often reach heights of two to three feet and spreads of two to four feet. With some types reaching heights of 7 feet, tree peony are more closely related to tiny shrubs. The type of peony you plant will depend on where you live and the style you’re going for because all peonies require similar maintenance. The focus of this paper will be on tree and herbaceous peony.
When to Plant Peonies
Fall is the ideal season to plant peonies. This is often when peonies purchased from a catalog will be delivered. It’s okay to plant peonies when you see them flowering and for sale in containers in the spring.
Where to Plant Peonies
Peonies require at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight every day, though in zones 8 and 9, some shade from the sweltering afternoon sun is beneficial. Additionally, picking a location with sufficient air circulation is crucial to avoiding fungal illnesses.
How to Plant Peonies
In somewhat damp, well-drained soil, peonies thrive. Dig a hole, take the plant from the pot, and plant container-grown herbaceous peonies (the kind you buy in pots) so that the top of the root ball is level with the earth (any deeper and the peonies will not bloom). Fill up the area surrounding the plant by combining the discarded soil with an equal amount of Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Flowers.
Before planting bare root herbaceous peonies, give them a brief dip in a basin of water to rehydrate them. Create a planting hole that is big enough to fit the roots, mix the soil as previously mentioned, and place a mound of the blended soil in the middle of the planting hole. Place the roots atop the mound and let them fan out and descend. Using the remaining blended soil, fill in the remaining portion of the hole, making sure that the “No more than 1 to 2 inches of soil should be present around the plant’s eyes (or growth buds) in order for it to bloom.
Deeper planting is required for tree peony. Unless they are grafted, peonies should be planted in the same soil combination as above, 2 to 4 inches deep at the crown (where the roots meet the stem). Check the label to see if the plant has been grafted, and then plant it such that the “The plant’s graft union, where the grafted top and rootstock are united, is located 4 to 6 inches below the soil line.
How to Stake Peonies
Peony stems are prone to toppling over after it rains, and the blossoms can become big and heavy. For herbaceous peonies, the best approach is to cover each plant in a peony cage in the spring, before the leaves begin to sprout (picture metal supports with rings for the flowers to grow up through). This is far more effective than attempting to hold each flower stalk separately, and it also looks nicer than wrapping the entire plant in string and cinching it in like a belt.
One stake can be used to stake tree peonies. Place the stake next to the stem in the ground, and then use a piece of twine to loosely secure the plant to the stake.
How to Water Peonies
When planting, give everything plenty of water. When the spring foliage begins to emerge and the flower buds start to show, give the plants another drink. Although peonies do not have a thirst, they will benefit from watering during dry spells for a year following the first planting.
How to Feed Peonies
Your peony will benefit from a powerful combination of care that includes excellent soil and the ideal plant food. Give peonies the nutrition they require by feeding them Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Rose & Bloom Plant Food in addition to the soil improvements indicated above for stunning color and more flowers than unfed plants. Peonies should be fed twice a year: the first time, right after they emerge in the spring (when the new shoots are 2 to 3 inches tall but before the flower buds are pea-sized), and the second time, in the middle of the growing season (about three months after the first feeding), to help them develop sturdy roots before the arrival of winter. Make sure you adhere to label instructions.
How to Help Prevent Problems with Peonies
Although mostly fuss-free, peonies occasionally experience fungal issues. Browning and failure to open flower buds are symptoms of botrytis. Brown patches on leaves are a symptom of some fungus illnesses. Infected blooms and leaves should be simply pruned off and disposed of (do not compost) in order to control these problems. Additionally, keep the plants neat, remove old foliage at the end of the season, and deadhead spent blooms. Peony blooms occasionally draw ants, but they won’t hurt the plants, so you can ignore them. (Contrary to popular belief, peonies do not require ants to blossom.)
How to Prune Peonies
Cut back each flower stalk on herbaceous peonies once all of the blooms have faded to just above a leaf, low enough so that the stem doesn’t protrude above the rest of the leaves. Unruly tree peony can be trimmed either in the spring or the fall (right before plants go dormant). However, any stems you trim back in the fall will not blossom the following spring (as you will be cutting off the flower buds). After blossoming in the spring, you can prune. Anytime you choose to prune, be careful not to take more than one-third of the plant with you.
How to Divide Peonies
It is ideal to leave tree peony alone (undivided) so they can flourish for many generations in the garden. If the clumps have become too large or the flowering has slowed, herbaceous peonies can be divided. Herbaceous peonies can be divided by digging up the entire clump and rinsing it off to reveal the plant’s numerous roots and eyes (or buds). Leave as least one large root and three to four eyes per clump after cutting the plant apart with clean, sharp pruners. Replant, adhering to the bare root peony planting directions above. The plants might or might not flower the first year after dividing, so keep that in mind.
How to Cut Peonies for Bouquets
Timing is crucial. Buds should feel roughly as firm as a soft marshmallow when squeezed, which is known as the “soft marshmallow stage.” Examining the bud’s coloration is another method for determining when to cut. The majority of the bud’s exterior should remain green, but you should be able to make out approximately half an inch of the flower’s vibrant petals. Although cutting the flowers at this point lessens the possibility of bringing ants inside with them, it is still advisable to inspect the flowers before bringing them inside. Plants should open up when stems are placed in a vase of water. For longer-lasting blooms, change the water every few days and apply Miracle-Gro for Fresh Cut Flowers (vs. water only).
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Spreading of peony tubers?
No, peony won’t naturally grow more plants or spread out. One day you may realize that your peonies have grown rather large and have spread out quite a distance.
If you want to grow more peony plants in this situation, dividing them is your best option. This is the finest approach to propagate herbaceous peonies and a way that you may aid in it.
Peonies can’t actually be encouraged to grow or anything like that. Simply put, it’s better to hold off on taking any action until the peony plant has grown larger.
Dividing peony plants is the only way to produce more of them. Although this method isn’t inherently difficult, you’ll want to become familiar with it so that you can carry it out correctly.
To get more peony plants, read on to find out how to divide existing ones. This will enable you to plant peonies in several garden locations if you so want.
Before planting, should I soak the tubers of peonies?
The peony’s lengthy life is one of its greatest draws, in my opinion. Herbaceous peonies have been known to bloom consistently for more than 50 years, occasionally outliving the gardeners who first planted them! But the care you take in setting them up is the secret to their durability.
In my experience, the first few leaves turning color in the fall are the best time to sow bare root peony tubers. After a plant is described as being “bare root,” it signifies that when it was dug up from the ground, all of the soil surrounding the tuber was removed. Since bare root peonies are less expensive than container-grown plants and may be planted in the autumn, they have more time to establish a strong root system and will be better prepared for robust growth the following spring.
The first thing you should do when you open the package of bare root peony, whether you bought them from a neighborhood garden center or via mail order, is to make sure the plant is healthy. The tubers have to be solid, meaty, and mold-free.
In order to rehydrate bare root plants before planting, it is a good idea to soak them in a pail of water for two to four hours.
If the tubers can’t be planted straight away, keep them in their packaging in a cold, dry location, such a garage or basement. Check on the tubers occasionally to make sure they aren’t turning soft or moldy because warmth and moisture will encourage them to begin developing. They can be stored in this manner for about five days.
Planting Location for Peonies
Select a location with well-drained, slightly acidic soil that receives direct sunlight. Additionally, keep in mind that once established, peonies do not respond well to transplanting, so choose a location where they can be left alone.
Planting Peonies
Peonies should be planted with their eyes facing upward and close to the soil’s surface. Now, this is a crucial point to remember. Too-deeply planted peonies won’t produce flowers. Plant the tubers no deeper than 2 inches in northern gardens. They are buried approximately a half-inch deep in my garden in the middle of the South. This enables the mulch I apply over the planting bed to discourage weed growth and aid in moisture preservation.
After planting, give the area plenty of water and keep it continually moist until the ground freezes.
What to Expect After Planting Peonies
Your peony will develop foliage in the spring of next year, but it can take a few seasons before it blooms profusely. But you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Peonies are plants that are designed for lengthy lives, and as they become older, their blossoms get better.
Many of the traditional cultivars, including “Sarah Bernhardt” and “Festiva Maxima,” have big, heavy blossoms that have a propensity to topple over. Caging them in the early spring, right after the stems appear above ground, is one of the best strategies to prevent this. To support them, use a straightforward metal ring with legs, or simply enclose the plant in a section of wire fencing.
Caring for Peonies After they Bloom
Peonies also have a wonderful smell, but in order to ensure that there will be a lot of bloom the following year, it’s crucial to remove the seedpods and fertilize each plant in late spring or early summer after deadheading the faded petals. You might sprinkle a 5-10-5 mixture around the base. Per plant, about a handful is sufficient. You only need to feed plants at this time because fertilizer overuse can produce burn, fewer blooms, and lanky growth.