7 Tips for Growing Peonies

Peonies are a gorgeous, classic flower that gardeners have been growing for generations. They are a hardy perennial that puts on a brief show in the early summer, before its blooms quickly fade and bow out. Even though their yearly show is brief, peonies are so beautiful with their layered blooms that gardeners still enjoy growing them season after season. If you want to know more about growing peonies in your own yard, take a look at these 7 Tips for Growing Peonies.

7 Tips for Growing Peonies

1. Start with seedlings. You CAN grow peonies from seed, but growing them from seedlings is advised. You will find that it is easier to grow peonies from starts and you will also enjoy your blooms a lot sooner. Buy plant starts at a reputable gardening center so you can get growing quickly.

2. Aim for afternoon shade. Peonies do well in partial shade. They seem to prefer afternoon shade and morning sun. Note the sun patterns in your own yard before deciding where you wish to plant your peonies so you can be sure they get the sun and then the shade break they need.

3. Soil quality is important. You should plant peonies in soil that is nutrient rich. Be sure to stir in some organic matter or compost prior to planting. Soil should drain well and not be sandy or have clay in it. You want the roots to not be obstructed at all.

4. Bury at the appropriate depth/width. You want to be sure when burying your peony you are planting it 6 inches deeper than the length of the root ball and twice as wide as the width of the root ball. Your roots will need room to expand so making sure the root ball isn’t too compacted is important.

5. Try some low nitrogen fertilizer. A low nitrogen fertilizer can help give your peonies a boost. Give them a feeding when you plant and again 2-3 weeks later. A slow release fertilizer is always advised as well and can help gradually feed the plant during the season.

6. Offer support. The blooms of the peony can be quite heavy. Try using stakes or even a tomato cage to help support the peonies. This way, you don’t need to worry about the stems breaking or snapping and your peony can look more full. Just a stake and a little string is all you need.

7. Cut back at the end of the season. At the end of the growing season and once all of your blooms are expired, you can go ahead and cut the plant back. Go ahead and cut the stems down to the base where they will remain dormant over the winter months and re-sprout during the spring.

Are you ready to give peonies a try? Give these tips on how to grow peonies a try and see what kind of results you can achieve. You will find it only takes a season or two to really get your plants going, and once they do they are a perennial you will enjoy for years.