Planting Perfect Peonies

Planting Perfect Peonies

Whether grown in a border, along a walkway, at the centre of a garden bed or for use as cut flowers, peonies are the picture of splendour. These beloved flowering plants are not only fragrant and gorgeous, they’re hardy, versatile, carefree and adaptable, able to thrive in almost any area of the U.S. They’re perfect for beautifying nearly any spot that receives at least some sunlight.

Of their many wonderful qualities, peonies are perhaps best known for their longevity. These decorative flowering plants can live for 100 years or more, and with virtually no human help. Many generations of families can enjoy the same plants! Given their long, low-maintenance lives and large, aromatic blooms, it’s no wonder gardeners, florists and flower enthusiasts everywhere are peony lovers.

Fall is the best time for planting peonies. The ideal location is a sunny or partly shaded spot where there is good air circulation (but also protection from strong winds). The bulbous, bareroot plants do best in well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Heavier soils will require amending, which is easily done by mixing them with compost or other organic matter. Proper soil preparation prior to planting will greatly improve their chances for long-term growth, so enrich the soil as best you can.

Peonies can be planted in autumn or spring, although fall planting gives them a head start the following spring. Aim for about six weeks before the ground freezes, which will give them time to establish roots before winter. Gardeners should plant peony bareroot plants with their “eyes” looking up, no deeper than 2–3″ beneath the soil’s surface.* This will leave them perfectly positioned to experience the winter chill they relish. Water thoroughly.

(*A quick note to our friends in the South: We recommend that you select early blooming, heat-resistant peonies. Plant these late in the fall, at a depth of only 1″. And make sure to provide the roots with some shade.

Peonies don’t take kindly to competing for nutrients against trees, shrubs or other peonies, so give them some space and plant them at least 3–4’ apart. Peonies yield more and larger blooms when they receive sufficient sunlight. More sun also builds up their resistance to fungal disease.

Check on young plants regularly and irrigate them whenever the soil appears dry in their root zones. Waiting for their blooming season is always the hardest part about growing peonies. But when it finally arrives, it’s a genuine thrill—no matter how many times you’ve experienced it!

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