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Planting Instructions |
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| herbaceous peony | It's Peony Planting Time Now that the weather is beginning to cool off it is the perfect time to plant peony roots. Those familiar with these stately flowers adore them for their exquisite blossoms, magnificent fragrance, and deer resistance. Once established peonies will provide centuries of enjoyment for even the most neglectful gardener. Bare Root Peonies Similar to bulbs, peony roots should be planted in the fall so that the fibrous root system can fill in over the winter to sustain the plant come spring. Healthy bare-root peonies consist of one or more carrot-like tuberous roots and three to five delicate pink or white eyes. The bud-like eyes produce stems that support one to five flowers depending on the species. Use extra care when planting your peony as to not brake off any of the eyes. Site Selection The first thing to consider when determining the placement for your peony is the amount of sun. Herbaceous peonies love full sun but will grow just as well with a half-a-day. Tree peonies do well with a half-a-day of sun or dappled sunlight, just be sure to limit any root competition with other trees or shrubs. The second thing to consider is soil conditions. They prefer neutral to slightly alkaline soil, but are incredibly forgiving and tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Peonies planted in clay soil, amended to ensure good drainage, take longer to become established but can eventually produce better flowers. Peonies planted in sandy soil take less time to become established but can produce less striking flowers as nutrients often wash away. Most important is that the soil drains, as peonies can not tolerated wet feet. Planting As your peony prefers to be planted and left in one location for generations, it is worth taking the time to amend the soil. Dig a hole at least the size of a three-gallon pot, amend the soil with sand or quarry dust if increased soil drainage is necessary. Add well decomposed compost, a slow release fertilizer that is low in nitrogen, and/or bone-meal. Plant your herbaceous peony so that an inch to and inch and a half of soil is covering the eyes and water in well. Planted too deeply the plant will not produce flowers, too shallow and the tops of the eyes will freeze and die back. Tree peonies should be planted deeply, about an inch and a half above where the root joins the stem. This will promote additional side branches to emerge from the base. All of our tree peonies are on their own root, not grafted, ensuring a healthier plant. Throughout the first one or two growing seasons after planting a new peony, ensure that it gets a good soaking every two to three weeks. This keeps the plant from being overstressed before it has created a fibrous root system. Remember that peonies do not like wet feet and be careful to not over water. It takes three years for a new peony to become established in your garden, maturing into a stately presence and requiring little care. Transplanting Peonies If you are lucky enough to have mature peonies in your garden and want to transplant them or share them with family and friends, the time to do this is in the fall when the plants have become dormant. Beginning at least eight inches from the base of the stem, loosen the plant from the soil with a large garden fork. Working your way around the plant gently prying and lifting it from the ground. Keep in mind that the tuberous roots are brittle and can easily be broken. The peony can either be planted as is, or can be divided into several plants. Dividing Peonies When dividing a peony wash the dirt off of the roots and cut the top portion with a sharp knife to create sections that have three to five eyes and at least one to two large roots. Wipe or cut away the fibrous root system, trim the tips of the tuberous roots and plant them according to the guidelines above. Fall Care Around Halloween, cut herbaceous peony stems so they are only two inches from the ground. It is common at this time for the leaves to be less than aesthetically pleasing. They may be dotted with brown spots or covered in a white mold. These diseases are common and largely cosmetic but should be removed from the garden. Clean up the area around the peony. If desired, add a handful of bone meal or a slow release fall fertilizer six inches away from the base of the stem. Carefully check the surface around the stem to ensure the pink or white eyes remain one to one and a half inches below the surface of the soil. |
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