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Please email us at
info@swensongardens.com
for any additional questions.
What are ‘intersectionals’?
Intersectional
hybrid peonies are a cross between a tree peony and a herbaceous peony. The tree
peony is the pollen parent and the herbaceous peony is the pod parent. It has the
flower and foliage of a tree peony and the stem strength of a herbaceous peony.
Unlike the tree peony, which retains its woody stems throughout the year, the intersectional
hybrid stems will die back to the ground in the fall like their herbaceous peony
parent. Also, intersectional hybrid peonies will grow two to three times faster
than tree peonies.
What are ‘garden
varieties’?
Garden
varieties are our definition of all herbaceous and herbaceous hybrid peonies. Their
stems will die back to the ground in the fall.
What are ‘distinctive
gardens’?
Distinctive
gardens are our definition of all herbaceous and herbaceous hybrid peonies that
offer far superior attributes. Some of these are newer herbaceous hybrid peonies
as well as hard to find herbaceous peonies. Stem strength, extended bloom time,
show quality blooms, landscape appealing foliage and new colors are some of the
outstanding features. Again, their stems will die back to the ground in the fall.
What does the
term “landscape” mean?
Peonies
that are identified as “landscape” feature qualities that make the plant very attractive
even after the blooms have expired. These peonies offer beautiful leaf formations
or color, symmetrical shape, or outstanding stem color to provide a lovely backdrop
for the other plants in your garden.
Do we ship
potted peonies in the spring?
No. You
will find colorful potted peonies available for sale in the spring at box stores
and some nurseries. Most peony growers, including us, only ship bare-root peonies
in the fall. Why? Because it is significantly better for the plant! Bare-root peonies
reach maturity faster, are more disease resistant and will acclimate better to your
site conditions.
When is the
best time to plant bare-root peonies?
Plant
six weeks before the first hard frost. Here in USDA Zone 4, we suggest early to
mid-September. In USDA Zone 7 we suggest early to mid-November. The six week period
allows your bare-root peonies to develop feeder roots for next summer’s new growth.
Is it necessary to mulch
newly planted bare-root peonies?
Yes,
if you are in USDA Zones 2 to 4.
No, if
you are in USDA Zones 5 to 8.
When is the
best time to mulch newly planted bare-root peonies?
Mulch
after the ground has two to four inches of frost. Mulching is required to prevent
the roots from heaving in late winter to early spring while the ground is thawing
and re-freezing.
When is the
best time to remove mulch in the spring?
When
tulips first appear, remove half of the mulch and the remaining mulch 10 to 14 days
later. The new growth will be okay if the temp dips to 20 degrees F for three consecutive
nights. If it is colder than that, re-mulch and remove when temp warms up again.
During years of late frosts after the blooms are set, you may lose the blooms for
that year, but the plant will come back the next spring.
What if our
newly planted bare-root peony does not come up its first spring?
As growers
we too are faced with that scenario from time to time. The first thing we check
is to see if there is new growth coming up under the soil. Gently remove a small
amount of the soil with your bare hands until you can feel and/or see the root crown
on garden peonies or red tie on intersectional hybrid peonies. Make sure the eyes
or red tie are at the correct depth according to your original planting instructions.
If the root has sunk, gently remove additional soil to the correct eye or red tie
depth. Newly planted peonies may not survive if there are heavy rains in the fall
and spring. Unfortunately, that is something over which we have no control.
When can we
divide our peonies and share with our friends?
Definitely
wait at least three years and then do not dig or divide until after September 1st. Cut the root mass
in half or quarters, retaining at least 3 to 5 eyes per section and trim the bottom
roots until they are about 8 to 10 inches long. Wash off roots; dip in 1 ounce bleach
to 10 gallons water, rinse, and then plant immediately.
Do we ship
to international locations?
Yes!
Because of the worldwide interest in our peonies, we are now offering international
shipments to pre-qualified countries. The minimum product order is US $500.00 plus
applicable phyto-certificate (currently US $75.00) and actual shipping costs. Please
email us at
info@swensongardens.com for additional information
and to place your order. Funds must be wire transferred and received in full before
your order is released. All international orders will ship in mid-September.
Are we interested
in speaking at garden clubs, garden days and expos?
Yes!
Please email us for additional information. We are available during the months of
January, February, March and April. Costs vary according to your specific needs.
Can we visit
your peony farm?
Not yet!
We are in the process of moving to our new farm near Howard Lake, Minnesota, 35
miles west of
Our peony did
not bloom in its second year. What should we do?
The first
step is to determine the amount of sun the plant has received. If it gets less than
8 hours of sun, you should move plant to a sunnier location. Second, if the location
has sufficient sun, after the foliage is cut down in the fall, carefully remove
about 1 to 2 inches of dirt around the stems. Your peony may have sunk or been planted
too deep. Wait until the next spring to see if it has bloomed. If not, you should
dig it up and replant it. Make sure to cut roots off so they are 8 to 10 inches
long. This will encourage new growth.
Our peony buds
turned brown and did not flower. What should we do?
Sometimes
a late frost may damage your buds. If that is the case, you will have to wait until
next year to see blooms. If you did not have a late frost, this may also be a sign
that your root was planted too deep. Carefully remove 1 to 2 inches of dirt around
the stems after the foliage has been cut down in the fall.
What are some
organic fertilizers we SHOULDN’T use?
Both
blood meal and composted sheep manure release nitrogen too quickly and may cause
your plants to burn. We do not recommend composted horse manure either, although
our horse loving customers may disagree. The nitrogen overload is a concern, as
well as the tremendous amount of weed seed germination if the compost is not wintered
over for a couple of years.
What are some
organic fertilizers we CAN use?
We love
bone meal! It releases nitrogen at a slower rate and provides micro-organism growth.
We also
love composted cow manure as it releases slower and welcomes micro-organisms.
Now don’t
be alarmed, but we recommend sewer sludge. Milorganite is the brand name. It absolutely
will not burn and releases slowly, as well as adding trace elements that encourage
micro-organisms. For our “clay bound” friends, use pelletized gypsum as an amendment
agent. Because it is a mined mineral, it is still considered organic. Amend at a
rate of 2 cups per hole into your excavated soil. No need to apply again.
Last
but not least, for those who have been to our presentations you know our secret…sorry,
but now the whole world will know…cocoa bean shells are an additional amendment
agent. Add a couple of shovel scoops to your excavated dirt, mix well, and add back
into your hole. Why is that important? Because most of the peony varieties are probably
female, they LOVE chocolate! Seriously, if you want award winning blooms, try it
sometime!
We would like
to grow our peonies organically, but, oh, those pesky weeds! Now what?
Dear
fellow gardener, we too face that dilemma, but to the extreme! Say 10,000+ plants!
The hours we put into removing weeds truly are a labor of love. For us, with outside
help, it can be done. However, the costs involved doing this are quite high. This
is also one of the main reasons why some of our plants may be higher in cost than
the other chemical, fungicide and herbicide loving growers, nurseries and garden
centers. Here’s a hint: landscape fabric! Not the cheap stuff, but professional
grade fabric that still allows water to pass through and air circulation to dry
out the ground. Make sure you leave a large enough area open to let the stems grow
and expand in that area as your peony matures. You can also add a thin layer of
shredded wood mulch, but keep it away from the stems. You’ll still have to hand
weed, but now area is smaller.
What is the
best PH level for peonies?
First
and foremost, test your soil. Hand kits are available for $5 to $10. We like anywhere
from 6.8 to 7.2 ph level. Now that said, we have also noticed greater root growth
below neutral (7.0 ph) and greater bloom growth at 7.0 to 7.2 ph.
Why are the
intersectional hybrid peonies selling at such a varied degree of pricing?
Thank
you for asking!!! First of all, we knew this was coming due to the tissue culture
(“TC”) cloned plants that are being imported into the
Should we remove
the spent blooms?
Yes,
as long as you wait at least 2 – 3 weeks after the last bloom has deceased and turned
brown. Most people like to tidy their plants up by removing the spent blooms. From
an aesthetic perspective, it also shows off the bush/shrub-like characteristics
of our varieties noted as “landscape”.
How can we
plant your newer varieties where some of our old peonies are now? Make sure you have someone help you who has a very strong back! For each original peony, excavate a three foot cubic area and move the dirt well away from any possible contact with that site. Add one foot of good topsoil to the hole. We suggest certified weed-free topsoil. Water in the site and then prepare the site as noted in our peony care section. How do I return to your website after visiting your online store? Since we are a secure online store, our best suggestion is to print off the order form from the ‘How to order’ page and use as a guideline before entering the online store. Once inside the store, then enter your entire order. No additions or deletions may be done to the original order. Should you need to change your order, please contact us directly at info@swensongardens.com for additional directions. If you go into the store and then use your browser’s ‘back’ button, existing information may be lost. Do you offer volume discounts and/or wholesale pricing? Yes and no. We are not a wholesale grower! However, for orders over $1,000.00, please contact us before placing your online order at info@swensongardens.com for additional information. Also, if you are a landscape designer, landscape installer, garden club or fellow grower, please contact us directly before placing your orders. We would love to hear from you and work with you on your special pricing. |
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