PEONY PLANTING AND CARE TIPS FOR USDA ZONES 2 TO 4

SITE LOCATION

·          Peonies will not tolerate wet feet! A well drained site is imperative! Be careful of lawn sprinklers!

·          Minimum of 8 hours of full sun. Full sun is great! (Corals do like some PM shade)

·          Keep a minimum of 3 to 4 feet distance from trees, shrubs, grass and other peonies.

·          Area should also offer adequate ventilation.

·          Do not plant your new peony where a previously planted has been!

SITE PREPARATION ON RECEIPT OF YOUR NEW PEONY

·          Plant new roots immediately!!! Wash packing material off of roots with water.

·          Start by digging your hole 2 to 3 feet wide.

·          For garden peonies, dig the hole deep enough with the roots pointed down so the eyes are 2 inches below ground level THEN dig an additional 6 to 8 inches.

For intersectional peonies, dig the hole deep enough with the roots pointed down so the red twist tie on the stem is even with the ground level THEN dig an additional 6 to 8 inches.

·          Add a shovel scoop of composted manure and 1 cup bone meal into hole.

·          Add about six inches of black dirt over fertilizer, lightly water and tamp down to form a solid base.

·          For garden peonies, place the root down and eyes up so the eyes are 2 inches below ground level. Add or delete base accordingly.

For intersectional peonies, place the root down and stems up so the red twist tie is even with ground level. Add or delete base accordingly. Leave red twist tie on plant their first year.

·          Remove debris from excavated dirt and mix in two shovel scoops of sphagnum peat moss.

·          Carefully hold root while filling in half the hole with dirt and water in until it stops settling.

·          Fill in remaining hole with dirt and water in until it stops settling.

·          Add or delete dirt so eyes or red twist tie are at the correct level.

·          Do not water plant site anymore this year!

·          Install peony hoop to protect your new growth next spring.

SITE PREPARATION IN LATE FALL/EARLY WINTER

·          After 2 inches of frost is in the ground, cover area with 4 inches of mulch.

·          Do not use leaves or grass clippings as they harbor fungal diseases.

·          We us cypress or cedar shredded mulch but loosely strewn straw, marsh grass or pine boughs will also work.

·          You do not need to mulch again after the first winter.

EARLY SPRING AND SUMMER CARE

·          When tulips first appear or after last hard frost, carefully remove and discard ½ of your winter mulch; then, carefully remove and discard the remaining winter mulch 1 week later.  

·          Add or delete dirt to correct eyes or red twist tie ground level depth.

·          Pinch off all marble size buds their first year. (Optional, however if you do, plants will exhibit more vigorous growth in years 2 and 3.)

·          When garden peony is three years old, ok to remove 1/3 of its blooms. At five years old, ok to remove 2/3 of its blooms. Never remove all of its blooms!

·          Cut blooms early and immediately place in vase with lukewarm water and floral preservative.

·          Intersectional hybrid peony blooms are best left on the plant.

·          If you, like us, would like a few intersectional blooms in their third year, cut the stem one inch below the bloom that is just starting to open and place in a fish bowl vase ½ full of water and floral preservative.

FALL CARE

·          After the first few hard frosts or when foliage is brown, cut stems off 2 inches above the ground.

·          Discard foliage at a non-recyclable compost center or burn.

·          Never re-use soil that has been composted with peonies!

·          Removal of all foliage around your site will protect next year’s peonies from diseases.

Do email us at info@swensongardens.com or call us at 763.350.2051 for any additional information. Enjoy your peonies!