Caring for Peony Roots & Plants

Planting:

  1. Dig a hole approximately 8 inches in diameter and deep enough for the root, good, well draining soil. Mix in a handful of bone meal in the soil around the roots. Remember this plant will likely be in this site for many years.
  2. The site should be in full sun, away from trees or large shrubs.
  3. Place the root in the hole in such a way that the maximum number of "eyes" are level to and near the surface. Cover the upper most "eye" with a maximum of 2 inches of soil. In Western Washington one inch is adequate.

Feeding:

  1. Twice a year (late fall and early spring) are the best times, fertilize with 2 ounces of granular 10-20-20 or 16-16-16 plant food. Do not use a plant food where the first number (nitrogen) is larger than the other numbers.
  2. Peonies are relatively drought tolerant but do better with regular deep watering, during the summer, especially the first 3 years.
  3. Like most perennials it takes about 3 years to get fully going - then will last for many years. The first year it is helpful if you debud to one or two buds and permit the energy to go to the roots.
  4. Digging and dividing, when the plant starts having smaller and fewer buds, will reinvigorate the plant. It will also provide starts to friends and family.

Diseases:

The greatest problem is that of botrytis (fungal infection). Symptoms are of wilting, black leaves and/or buds and stems. This can spread fast so requires immediate action. Aggressively cut out the infected parts. Use a copper based fungicidal, Captan or other treatment recommended by your garden store.

The best preventive is to keep the plant well fed, weeded and fertilized. In the fall cut herbaceous and intersectional peonies to the ground and destroy the debris or remove from the site. DO NOT cut back tree peonies.

ANTS are naturally attracted to the sweet nectar given off by the opening bud. They are not required to be present for the bud to open and they cause no know problems.