Peony Care

Planting

Proper peony care starts with the planting. Pick a location that is sunny with well drained soil. This is very important to the health of your plant - it may be able to take a bit of afternoon shade but shade can severely restrict the blooming of your plants so an area with full sun is best. Peonies have tubers or large roots that store the food produced by the leaves. You should always buy high quality tubers if you expect high quality plants. Each tuber should have at least 3 eyes.

The soil should be loosened up to 18" and mixed with organic matter and fertilizer - do this 2 weeks before planting the tubers. The tubers should be set in the ground with the top being no more than 2" under the soil. Fill in around the tuber with soil, water and then add in the remaining soil to fill to ground level. Water often for the first couple of weeks.

Maintenance

Ongoing peony care for established plants is quite easy. The don't have too many insect problems, although I noticed that if I don't stake mine and they droop down near the ground they can get infested with tiny ants that eat the petals before it blooms! Fertilize them each year in the spring and make sure to cut them back to the ground in the fall after all the leaves have browned. Also remove any dead stalks or plants.

Before winter, put a mulch over the plants, remove it in spring and mulch again for summer control of weeds and to keep moisture in.