Growing Peonies
Often depicted in Chinese and Japanese paintings, the large, ragged petals of the peony lends the flower a special beauty of its own, which makes the peony a singular flower for any garden or vase. With over 30 different species of peony to select from in a wide range of colors such as white, pink, purple, and red for planting, at least one type will find its way into your garden. As a perennial, peonies are also known for their long life spans, and have been known to live up to one hundred years. In addition to their showy flowers, peonies come in a variety of scents such as rose or lemon to unscented flowers. There are also early, mid-season, and late blooming peony varieties, so if you want to select two or more to keep several seasons of peonies blossoming, you can. These hardy flowers are deer resistant, meaning that deer will not eat them, and easy to grow under the right conditions.
Peony tubers can be purchased at a nursery or online. The plants grow from Zones 3 to 8. Prior to planting the tubers, select a spot in your garden where the peonies will grow. Make sure the spot receives at least 8 hours of sunlight a day. In preparing the soil, make sure it is well-drained. Combine some compost, a cup of bonemeal if the soil is too heavy or sandy, and a little fertilizer. The soil pH for peonies should be neutral. Plant the tubers with the eyes facing upward in spaces that are 3’ to 4’ apart in holes that are 2” deep to allow for good air circulation. The air circulation will help prevent you peonies from getting botrytis, a disease commonly seen in this flower. Japanese beetles are another pest which peonies are susceptible to; make sure you hang a trap designed specifically for Japanese beetles near the peonies. Cover the hole with the tuber and gently tamp down the soil by hand.
When planting from tubers, keep in mind that the plants will not blossom the first year. It may take several years for the tubers to develop into mature plants. Peonies grow on average 2’ to 3’ tall. The best time of year to plant the tubers is during the fall season (between September and early October) in most zone locations. For Zones 7 and 8, plant the tubers during late October and November before the ground freezes. Maintenance of peonies is very easy as they do not require a lot of care.
Once the peonies bloom in your garden for the first time you may notice ants crawling along the surface of the petals. The sweet nectar produced by scale insects and aphids is what attracts the ants. Do not spray the ants. Peony blossoms can be cut to fill a vase. Your peonies will blossom from late spring through early summer.
Some planting tips:
Avoid placing mulch around the base of your peonies.
Avoid transplanting peonies as they do not transfer well to new locations in your garden.
Select a part of the garden close to the house or by a fence to provide support for the top-heavy flowers during windy days. If needed, insert planting stakes into the ground.
Do not plant peonies right next to other flowering bushes or trees that require light and moisture.
