what to do with peonies in the fall

1 year ago 40

Peonies require some care in the fall to ensure they remain healthy and bloom beautifully in the spring. Here are some things you can do with your peonies in the fall:

Cut back dead branches: Once peonies die off in the fall, cutting back the dead branches can help prevent disease and insect infestations. When pruning peonies in fall, you want to stop trimming before you hit the crown, which is the fleshy area between the stems and roots.
Remove foliage: Remove the foliage any time between September and November. Cut stems down to the ground and discard foliage.
Mulch: Young and newly-planted peonies will need some mulching for intensely cold winters. We recommend a layer of organic mulch like shredded bark, straw, or pine needles loosely at the base of the plant. Keep the mulch at least 1-2 inches away from the stems of the plant, and be sure to remove any heavy layers once spring arrives; they don’t love to have their base surrounded by too much mulch.
Fertilize: Fertilize peonies twice a year — in the spring shortly before new growth appears and in November to get the plants off to a good start next spring.
Protect from wind: Give your peonies some protection from strong wind, since they’re top-heavy when in bloom and can topple.
Deadhead: Once your peonies have finished blooming, cut off the spent bloom so the plant puts energy back into the root for next year’s bloom instead of into the seed. Cut the stem back into the plant to keep the peony bush looking neat.
Stake: Stake your peonies when they are between ½ and ¾ full height. Place ¾ inch thick bamboo stakes at 12-18 inch intervals around your plant about 1 inch away from the stems. Tie twine around a stake then loop it around each consecutive stake about 6-12 inches above the ground. Be sure it’s tight! Tie and loop a second layer of twine about 6 inches under the top of the stakes. Looping the twine around each stake allows it to be adjustable as your plant grows.