I always think of peonies as a grandmother's flower. It's charming,
beautiful, smells wonderful and it lasts for many, many years in the
garden with a little extra care...just like a grandmother.
Herbaceous or Garden Peonies (Paeonia officinalis) are great for
cold climates, since they withstand freezing temperatures, even in
Zone 2. Mulch to be sure, but usually a good snow cover protects
the plants. Peonies grow from tubers, and if there are less than 3
"eyes" or reddish looking buds on the tubers they will take years to
bloom. Ideally you want 3 eyes per division, and no more than 5.
The plants should be planted in a large hole, that has been predug
and amended with compost, rotted manure or peat. Plant so none
of the eyes are more than 2 inches under the soil. If you go much
deeper it will take the plant longer to bloom, as long as 2-3 years.
Peonies do not do well with wet feet, so plant them in soil that is
very well drained and in full sun. In the south plant them in partial
shade to help them survive the hottest days, but make sure they
do get enough morning sun and are still well drained. Some very
hot areas will not do well with peonies regardless of care.
After your peonies bloom you should leave the foliage, this is how
the tubers will feed during the summer. In the fall when they brown
you can cut them back to the ground, not before, or it can affect the
blooms. In warmer climates it's important that you cut back foliage
early enough to give plants 3 months of dormancy, which they will
naturally receive in colder climates.
In the spring remove any old mulch, and before the hot weather
appears, mulch each plant again with 2-4 inches of organic material. Remove this layer
of mulch before winter, and replace it with a mulch of straw or
hay. This is a precaution against any bacteria/disease that
may be lurking in the mulch. Do not let it touch the stems.
You also don't want the buds closer than a couple of inches to the
top of the mulch.
Peonies hardly ever need dividing if planted properly.
If you notice a decline in the blooms it could mean they are
crowded and it's time to divide the roots. This could be 5 years
or 50, depending on if they are given enough room to grow.
It's best to do this in early fall. Leave them alone if at all possible.
(see the note below for other reasons to move peonies.)
I've seen much advice that you should plant peonies in groups of at
least three. I don't necessarily agree with this. It depends upon the
space you have available. One peonie in the middle of a bed with a
mixture of tall spring bulbs and summer blooming perennials behind
it, and shorter perennials or annuals in front of it can make a pretty
flower bed. Peonies are lovely old fashioned perennials and even if you can only have
one it's worth the extra love and care for those blooms each year.
PEONIE TROUBLES?
If your peonies have lush foliage but no blooms there could
be several reasons why, according to Organic Gardening magazine.
A very late spring frost may kill
flower buds. This is a real concern this year with the odd
weather. Cover your peonies if you could get frost. After
your peonies bloom and the foliage starts to brown DO NOT
cut it to the ground. It needs to be completely dead with no
green at all before it's cut back. Your peonies could also
be planted too deeply--they should only be planted 1-2 inches
below the soil and if the divisions only had 1-3 "eyes" they
will take sometimes 2-3 years before they bloom. Peonies
also need a good amount of sun, and a well-drained soil.
Lastly, if they are planted too near the roots of a large tree
or shrub this could be interfering, and you'll need to dig up
the peonies and move them to a better location.
PEONIES WITH MILDEW?
My peonies sometimes get a white substance all over
the leaves. Do you know what cause it and what I can
do to prevent it? ~Jennifer
It's most likely powdery mildew, but peonies can also
become infected by Botrytis. Either way, there are
some things you can do to try and prevent it. Inspect
your peonies on dry days and remove any leaves that
look infected, browned etc. Remove blooms after they
have faded. Keep the area around the peonies clean of
ANY weeds, debris etc. Don't use heavy mulches and
water from the soil level, not overhead. They also need
good air circulation--don't plant other plants too closely
to the peonies. In the fall cut the foliage down and be
sure to remove all of it and clean the area.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is a wife and mom to three living in the Midwest
United States. She is also editor of OldFashionedLiving.com.
