The lovely sight of blooming Peonies is in May and June everywhere. Here are some tips on how to take care of these old-fashioned beauties:
Certain Peonies growing in gardens which have been there for more than 100 years. No one’s ever divided them or fussed with them, and they just keep coming up every year and flowering in lovely colors.
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Planting Time
The ideal time to buy and plant them would be in September, early October. Prepare a site that is maybe 2 feet across and about a foot deep, and add lots of compost in with it.
If you don’t have any compost (shame on you : ), then at least add a bit Bonemeal.
If your garden soil is low pH (slightly acidic) mix a little bit pulverized limestone in.
Don’t plant the root too deep! The same principle as with Irises.
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Peonies need to have sun - lots of it!
An optimal condition would be a very sunny spot and good drainage. Peonies do not like to be in a wet site. Planting them on a slight slope would be the ideal location. Get Peony stakes and set them up as early as possible in order not to have the stems to bend when they are growing up. The stakes avoid blooms toppling over.
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Most of the peonies are sold in the springtime and they bloom in May or they’re in flower and the garden centers show them. You have two choices. Either you can keep it in the container and hold it until fall. Best is to dig a hole in the future location, place the container in and surround it well with soil. Don’t overwater - but also don’t let it go dry for long periods of time.
Or - if you really want to plant it into the ground, don’t disturb the tiny feeder roots.
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With the right selection of peonies, you could have them flowering five to six, maybe even seven weeks, depending on the season and the Peony types. And if you do a good job of preparing the planting site, the peony is going to be there for a long time.
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