How to Grow Royal Peonies 13.08.2024 21:51:48

Peonies are beautiful perennial flowers that are also virtually low-maintenance. They can delight and amaze us for many years. For your peonies to thrive on their own, remain healthy and continue to please the eye with their lush blooms for a long time, the most important thing is to approach their planting correctly.



Let's start with soil acidity
This is perhaps one of the key aspects of growing peonies. Peonies require soil with a pH close to neutral, which is very important. In highly acidic soil, peonies can die. In our Northwest region, the soil on many plots is often acidic or slightly acidic, so when planting, you should add 1-2 cups of ash per bush. This will serve as both a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and a soil liming agent.

Soil
Peonies are rhizomatous perennials, so for proper development and growth of the bush's root system, the soil must be loose! Peony roots need to breathe. Like tuberous flowers, they thrive best in sandy loam soils, light clay, and even in sandy soils. The only thing peonies don’t like is heavy, dense clay. In such compact soil, the plant's tubers grow poorly, suffocate, and rot. Therefore, when planting peonies in dense clay soil, it is necessary to loosen it, for example, by adding sand.

So, in terms of structure, we need sandy loam or light clay soil, but not dense clay. The soil in the planting hole should be loose and approximately the size of the root system of a mature bush, which is about 60 centimeters wide and deep. Considering that our site has a sandy subsoil, I make planting holes for peonies up to 30-40 cm deep, which is quite sufficient. If your soil is dense and clayey, make the holes up to 60 cm deep.



Additionally, if you have a low-lying area with cold soil, it's advisable to create a raised bed for the peonies, similar to how we make raised garden beds. In a raised bed, the plant's roots will warm up better, won’t get waterlogged and your peonies will grow and bloom well.

Peonies also do not like overly moist areas with a high water table and do not grow well in peat bogs. In such areas, it's also better to raise the bed for peonies to prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged and rotting.

Nutrition
For peonies to bloom profusely, they need proper nutrition. Be sure to add fertile forest soil and ash to the planting hole. However, avoid using manure! Manure is contraindicated for peonies as it promotes the development of fungal diseases and rot. Fertile forest soil or well-decomposed compost is necessary for active growth of the green mass, while ash or other phosphorus-potassium fertilizers help in the formation of flower buds and lush blooming. During blooming, plants actively use phosphorus, so it’s important to replenish it in a timely manner by fertilizing the plant, for example, with an ash infusion, if you haven’t already added it this year during planting.



You can add live mycorrhiza when planting, which can now be purchased from online stores. It’s important not to mix mycorrhiza with ash or phosphorus-potassium mineral fertilizers, as this will kill it!

Additionally, there are various organic fertilizers on the market based on the activity of potassium and phosphorus fixing bacteria. If you don’t have any organic options available, you can use mono potassium phosphate or a mixture of superphosphate and potassium sulfate. However, I prefer organic options because mineral fertilizers can kill the soil microbiota, which is essential for nourishing our plants.

The correct planting depth for peonies is also very important; without it, you won't get blooming. The dormant bulbs should be planted no deeper than three to four centimeters below the soil level. If planted too deeply, peonies will not bloom; if planted too shallowly, the bulbs may freeze and the peony bush could die.

Sun Exposure
In full sun, peonies produce many flower buds and bloom very abundantly, but the blooming period is relatively short. In partially shaded areas, such as those without morning or evening sun but with some daytime light, peonies will produce fewer flowers, but they will be larger and bloom for a longer period. In the shade, herbaceous peonies bloom poorly. Therefore, try to find a more brightly lit spot for them.



The planting site should be sheltered from strong winds. In windy areas, heavy flower stalks may simply break. Additionally, in windy conditions, plants have to transpire more moisture through their leaves, resulting in more compact bushes.

Timing For Planting
The timing of planting peonies is also very important. Peonies establish best when planted in the fall. For our region, this is around September. They can also be planted in the spring, but the results will be poorer. Peonies planted in the spring develop more slowly and bloom later. This is due to the specific characteristics of the peony root system development.

I prefer to plant peonies in the fall. Considering that the soil will settle a bit over the winter, I create a slight mound when planting. This helps ensure that in the spring, our peonies are not sitting in a waterlogged hole and their roots do not become waterlogged. I always mulch the plantings, for example, with straw, old sawdust or limed peat.



These simple tips will help you grow royal peonies that will delight you with their beauty and fragrance for a long time. Good luck with your gardening!

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