Peonies

Peonies Information

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Peony Care

Peonies produce some of the showiest blooms of spring. Their blousy, sweet-smelling flowers range from pink and purple to white or coral. The stunning flowers are unfortunately short lived, and typically last for only 7-10 days. These tuberous plants are best planted in the fall. Even though many garden centers sell peonies in the spring, spring-planted peonies will languish behind their fall-planted counterparts. This is because peonies prefer to put their roots down during the cool weather of fall. The cooler soil temperatures in fall trigger root development, helping the plants establish quickly. By contrast, the warmer soils in spring suppress root growth, so the root system of spring-planted peonies is often inadequate to support growth during the hot and dry conditions of summer. The best time to transplant peonies is also in the fall when peonies produce most of their roots.

To support the best peony display, apply a layer of organic compost around the root zone in early spring, before buds show. You can also sprinkle a slow-release feed at this time, but avoid applying any high-nitrogen products, which can promote excess foliage growth. When the bright burgundy shoots appear in early spring, you can start to water peonies if rainfall is scarce. Well-established peonies are able to survive on spring rains alone.