{"id":2463,"date":"2019-06-10T03:37:34","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T03:37:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2463"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:32:08","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:32:08","slug":"14-tricks-on-planting-growing-amazing-peonies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-tricks-on-planting-growing-amazing-peonies\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Tricks on Planting & Growing Amazing Peonies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Peonies are one of the most popular flower types that are found in gardens all over the world, and they\u2019re one of the easiest flowers that you can add to your garden \u2013 praised for their wonderful colors, they produce their characteristic flowers usually a year or two after they\u2019ve been initially planted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They thrive in almost all types of weather, although prefer getting full or partial sun in order to bloom. When it comes to pests, there isn\u2019t much to worry about when you\u2019re planting peonies because while certain types of bugs are attracted to the plant, they aren\u2019t as interested in eating the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is only part of what could make them the perfect choice for the next flower to adorn your garden. Thinking of planting peonies in your garden? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 tricks on planting & growing amazing peonies that are guaranteed to turn heads next season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose the Right Type<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 3, 000 types of peony available on the market, and this can seem pretty intimidating to even an advanced gardener who has been planting for years \u2013 but there\u2019s no reason why this should be daunting. All that you have to do is research the type of peony that you have well before you plant it \u2013 and know that there aren\u2019t as many differences between varying types as you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peonies are classified into three main types: Herbaceous, Tree, and Intersectional. The differences aren\u2019t huge between these types, and the main difference between the three are the overall size: You can expect a tree peony to become much larger than a herbaceous-type peony, and should know to plant them accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When planting, make sure that you plant peonies by type (and far enough apart for the type you\u2019ve chosen to plant) so they don\u2019t crowd the space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Plant in Fall<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peonies bloom in spring to summer, and usually for a period around ten days. If you want to get the most out of the period of bloom, you\u2019ll want to plant your peonies in fall \u2013 and this will vary depending on which side of the globe you find yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re one of the few types of flowers that don\u2019t mind colder temperatures as long as they\u2019re getting enough nutrients, space, and sunlight \u2013 and this is what makes them an ever-popular option for almost any gardener in any part of the world and at any skill level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If peonies are planted too late on in the season, they might take longer to get to the flowering stage \u2013 or they might not take at all if it\u2019s too cold to kick-start their growth process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to keep an eye on your calendar if there are any other things you\u2019d like to plant alongside your peonies and mark the right time of year to do it ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Support Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peonies don\u2019t need any extra support as a rule in order to achieve happy growth, but this doesn\u2019t mean that you shouldn\u2019t be doing it; if you have one of the larger and bushier varieties of peony that we mentioned earlier on in this article, then you should know that the plants can greatly benefit from physically supporting their growth with simple wire-frames planted in the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in an area that\u2019s subject to a lot of weather and wind, luckily peonies are a type of flower that doesn\u2019t mind this much \u2013 but the windier weather can sometimes cause damage to the peony stalks and they are best protected against it if you have had any issues with wind and damage to plants in your garden before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, wind is one of the only factors that you\u2019ll generally have to guard your peonies against as they aren\u2019t generally considered to be a target for pests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Full Sun is Best<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re planting peonies (or transplanting an existing collection), then full sun tends to be best for the full benefit of the plant \u2013 although most types of peonies are known to cope just fine when grown in half-sun and partial shade instead, which is part of why they\u2019ve achieved so much popularity as a flower that can grow almost anywhere in the world without issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re planning out the positioning of your garden for the first time, the positioning of the planets in relation to one another (and to anything else that you might plant) aren\u2019t the only factors that you have to think about. Also, consider the position of the sun and how this will affect your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also ask whether anything you\u2019ve planted around the peonies could potentially shoot upwards and obscure the sunlight \u2013 yes, this is a common feature of badly-planned gardens that most people could have avoided just with a simple sketch of what gets planted where! <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Warmer Areas Utilize Shade<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Peonies are one of the few flowers which will thrive both in hotter and colder climates as long as they\u2019re growing in the best possible conditions for the type you\u2019ve chosen. If you live in colder areas, you want to make sure that you keep them guarded against frost \u2013 and if you live in warmer areas, you can use shade to great effect in order to achieve the best benefits of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve accidentally planted your peonies in the wrong spot and they\u2019re getting access to more sun than the plant would like for anyone living in hotter climates, there\u2019s no reason to have to move the plant \u2013 for this, all you have to do is put up some shade-netting to keep the plant out of the harsh sun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another way to cope if you notice that a plant in your garden is in need of shade is by planting other things around it instead \u2013 but you can risk too much shade this way, which can have the opposite effect of what you\u2019re hoping for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Composting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Composting is one of the best things you can do for your garden, and the benefits of composting extends far above just your own garden \u2013 it\u2019s just as great for the environment, and can greatly help you to cut down on the carbon footprint for your household and the amount of waste that you go through every year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When initially planting peonies, it\u2019s a good idea to mix compost into the soil: They tend to love moderate-pH soil that\u2019s not too moist (although still has a decent amount of moisture), and compost gives your peonies that initial boost they need to turn into healthy plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a side-note, while peonies aren\u2019t prone to most types of diseases that hit flowers, some types still might affect them. Should this happen, remove infected flowers and don\u2019t throw this back into the composting heap for the risk of re-infecting plants with the same condition because of the compost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Space them Right<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important factors for putting together your garden is spacing: If you don\u2019t space your plants right during the planting phase, you\u2019ll almost certainly run into issues when the plants have reached their flowering stage \u2013 and the majority of flowers won\u2019t like transplanting once they\u2019ve properly taken root. This is a very common mistake for first-time gardeners, and even more advanced gardeners can make this mistake when working with a new type of flower they aren\u2019t used to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peonies are no different, and they should be spaced far enough apart to give their roots (and eventual flowers) more than enough room to grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule of thumb, plant your peonies four to six feet apart. This number increases if you\u2019re planting one of the larger, bushier varieties of the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some simple planning ahead with a pen and paper (or relevant software) is enough to plan your garden decades ahead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Don\u2019t Transplant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most important tricks, when you want to plant peonies, is to make sure you have the spacing and positioning of the plants outlined before you plant them in the first place. Peonies are one of the few types of flowers that don\u2019t take well to transplanting, and moving a plant from one point to the other could be to its detriment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to peonies, they can be planted in almost any form or shape as long as they\u2019re being spaced far enough apart \u2013 and ideally, they aren\u2019t moved from their original spot. When you have peonies growing happily in the right place, it\u2019s not unusual for them to last upwards of 100 years!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a common mistake for first-time gardeners to forget to plan their gardens ahead of time, and then to run into problems when they realize they should have planted something there instead of there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Plant Shallow
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Gardeners should be aware that the best time of the year for peonie planting occurs between the months of October and March. Some expert growers recommend against planting in December, as the ground may be too cold to support root growth and recovery from the stress of transplanting. However, we have never experienced a problem with planting in December.
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We find that the reason why so many gardeners fail in the wintertime is not due to the seasonal difference, but rather the planting technique. If you plant the flowers too deep, then they fail to produce flowers. We recommend that you plant your peonies no more than 1-inch below the surface of the soil. Ensure that the \u201ceyes,\u201d that is, the flowering stems of the plant, sit no more than 1-inch below the surface.
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If you notice that almost all of your peonies are not flowering, then the planting depth is likely a common problem among your flowerbeds, and you may have to consider replanting, which can place stress on the plant, causing wilting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Rabbit-Resistant
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Do you live in an area where rabbits are a problem? Rabbits love getting into the vegetable garden to gorge themselves on your crop. Lettuce, peppers, carrots, and beets are all favorite foods of these rodents, and they will stop at nothing to sink their teeth into your crops.
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Fortunately, planting a row of peonies around your garden can help to ward off these furry critters, and keep them away from your garden. Rabbits detest flowers that produce large blooms, and there\u2019s something about the gorgeous fragrance of peony flowers that send rabbits running for the hills, instead of toward your veggie garden.
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Some of the best varieties of peonies featuring exotic scents include the \u201csoft pinks,\u201d such as the Raspberry Sundae and the Alexander Flemming. We also love the fragrance of the Crinkled White and the Honey Gold. Choose whatever variety you find appealing, and if you are a first-time peony grower, experiment with as many types as you can to find what you enjoy growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Prepare for Peonie Pests
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As the summer gets into full swing, you\u2019ll need to keep an eye on your peonies for signs of pests. Ants love to hang around on peonies to drink the sweet sap on the flower buds. Ants aren\u2019t a problem, and you don\u2019t have to worry about them, they will disappear as the buds start to flower.
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However, there are a few pests that can damage your peonies. Be on the lookout for these garden invaders.
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Thrip \u2013 These insects suck the life out of your plants, stripling and scarring petals, distorting the growth of the plant.
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Hoplia Beetles \u2013 These bugs hatch in the springtime, feeding on your flowers, creating holes on the petals.
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Scale \u2013 The oyster shell scale is an armored type that\u2019s problematic for your peonies. As the scale feeds, it causes drooping of petals and wilting in your peonies.
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Using neem oil to spray your flowers, prevents pests from feeding on your peonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Watch Out for Diseases
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Pests are a problem for peonies, but they are not the only threat to the health of your flowers. Many diseases present a risk to peony growers. Bacterial and fungal infections of your peonies can result in the rapid loss of your garden, killing your peonies in a matter of days. When spring is in full swing, so are pathogens, so keep a lookout for these peonie killers in your garden.
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Powdery mildew \u2013 This fungal disease looks like someone dusted your plants with castor sugar. However, it\u2019s a devastating disease that prevents your peonies from receiving the sunlight they need to survive. Powdery mildew occurs in damp and cold growing conditions. One of the biggest mistakes made by beginner gardeners is watering overhead. This watering technique leads to the development of powdery mildew, especially during colder weather conditions.
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Botrytis blight is also a concern for peonie growers. Look out for cankers on the stems of plants that cause browning and shriveling of the flowers.
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Peony wilt \u2013 This fungal disease affects peonies, causing wilting of stem tips, resulting in impaired flowering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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13. Picking Your Peonies
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As mentioned, there are numerous varieties of peonies available for planting in your garden. However, it\u2019s important to note that if you are starting from seed, it may take up to three tears for your peonies to reach maturity where they begin to flower. However, eventually, your peonies will bless you with flowers, turning your garden into a beautiful flowering landscape.
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Peonies are fantastic display flowers, and with the color and variety on offer, you can make beautiful displays that catch the attention of your guests and bring color to your home. We recommend you cut the herbaceous buds before they start to flower. Store them in the fridge in water for a week and wait for them to open before you decide to display the flowers.
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Dispose of any peonie leaves or buds That develop black or grey areas, as this is a sign of mold damage. Don\u2019t place them in the crisper drawer, as the lack of airflow will cause them to spoil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Why Your Peonies Aren\u2019t Flowering
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In some cases, peonies may not flower. There are plenty of reasons why this may happen to your flowers, and we put together this list of troubleshooting tips to see what\u2019s going wrong in your garden.
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Using the incorrect planting depth is the most common reason for peonies not flowering. If you bury the \u201ceyes\u201d of the plant, then you risk suffocating and constricting your peonies. Never exceed the 1-inch planting depth.  
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It\u2019s also common for late-season freezes to kill your peonies. If you live in a cold region of the United States, then mulch and cover your peonies with straw as the winter season starts to get underway.
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Peonies also prefer well-lit areas of the garden that get full sunlight through the day. If you plant your flowers in the shade, the stems may stretch as the peonie tries to reach for the sunshine. Fertilizing with too much nitrogen can also cause your plants to stretch, stunting flowering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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