Used for carnations, bouquets and all sorts of flower arrangements, peonies have nestled into the gardens of the world. This is for good reason, with the fragile, yet beautiful flowers blossoming with striking vibrancy.
Needless to say, peonies are suitable in all sorts of yards and will look great paired with virtually any plant, adding dots of color or texture.
Plating peonies isn’t a simple case of dropping seeds into the ground and gardeners will typically be curious as to know the best conditions, the best time to plant peonies and all the tips to help them grow into the gorgeous flowers they’re looking for. Well, we’re here to help and we have all the answers you need in this very article.
What peony should I plant?
When it comes to planting peonies, there are two main options you can choose: herbaceous or tree peonies. The difference is pretty vast and really depends on what look you want for your garden.
Herbaceous peonies are perfect for those that want a rich, colorful garden filled with lots of large flowers and plenty of colors. These fit in nicely with other flowering plants, potted or in a flower bed. Tree peonies, on the other hand, are large, with wooden branches and smaller flowers, but can last for generations if cared for correctly.
When to plant peonies
Winter, around September and October, is the best time to plant your peonies. If you live in a hardiness zone higher than 7, then you may want to plant slightly towards the latter half of October to November. Essentially, you want to plant your peonies six weeks before the frost starts to hit. Some varieties of peony may vary with planting seasons, but it is best to plant around late autumn.
How to Plant Peonies
Most gardeners will receive or purchase their peonies as tubers, which may have somewhere between 3 – 6 buds attached. Before planting find a spot in the garden that has good, full sun coverage, dig into it and turn the soil. Depending on the soil you have in your garden, you may want to mix in some compost in your patch to help it grow.
Herbaceous peonies are best planted around a metre apart, planting them deep enough so that the eyes (buds) are covered by only around 1 inch of soil. Make sure to give them a small amount of water to wet the soil, then cover with a small helping of mulch.
If you are planting a tree peony, you may have to do things slightly different. First of all check the soil, mix in compost and make sure it’s tossed enough to allow for drainage. Dig a hole 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Since most peonies are sold as grafts, make sure the graft union is around an inch beneath the soil. Then it’s simply a case of adding a small amount of mulch, watering them and making sure the soil around the plant is patted down.
How to Care for Peonies
Peonies aren’t too hard to care for, with some routine maintenance being enough to keep them flourishing. Watering is one thing that needs to be topped up on, but should only be routinely done whilst there are dry spells.
Overwatering a peony can be detrimental to its growth and damage it in the long term, so be wary of how much you are hydrating your plant.
Before it blooms in the spring, feed your peony with some fertilizer and cover it with some more mulch, helping it stay moist and prevent weeds from becoming a nuisance. If the flowers are blooming rather large, then it can also be beneficial to stake them so that they have the support they need.
Those with tree peonies will need to feed their plants slightly more, giving them a good dosage of fertilizer, bone meal, or potash. If your tree peony is starting to show signs of iron deficiency, when leaves turn orange, use an iron-rich plant feed to help rejuvenate it.
Deadheading is recommended once the flowers begin to wither and die off, with the stems and foliage requiring trimming significantly once autumn arrives. Removing the seed heads will give the plant more energy to produce big flowers the following year.
Common Pests Affecting Peonies
Peonies are generally a hardy plant, so they don’t have too much to worry about. There may be some pests that can bother your plant, but thankfully ants naturally take care of this, so if you see them wandering around the flowers, just leave them be.
The only other issues to look out for with peonies are peony wilt, which can be seen with wilting flowers and grey mold on the foliage. This can be dealt with however with a bit of TLC and sanitization of the plant. This is caused by overwatering, so definitely keep watering to the level necessary.
Intersectional Peonies
Intersectional peonies may interest gardeners who want the best of both worlds; herbaceous and tree. These forms of peonies have a woody structure but produce incredible, large flowers that can make an amazing centerpiece or feature in a garden. These are quite expensive and can be harder to look after, but are definitely worth it for those wanting the best peonies available.
Hopefully, this has answered all of your questions on growing these beautiful flowers in your garden. Not only will these draw attention but they will last for ages, growing back even better in subsequent years.
If you’re looking for other flowers to grow, why not check out sunflowers, hydrangeas, or lavender.