on Oct 27, 2017. Both plants thrive in well-drained but rich soil in a location that receives all-day direct sunlight. I would definitely get it done now, though. Begin by trimming down the stems and greens of your peony plant. Ideally peonies are divided in the fall season. Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Cut the roots apart with a knife sterilized in one part bleach and nine parts water. Depending on its age, you might need a fork or a spade. When can I divide daylilies? Yes, fall is the right season for dividing herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora and others), but I have to stress right from the start there is no obligation here: peonies don’t need division. Ciarra. Mix up a gallon per new plant using a water soluble formula with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium; this would read 7-7-7 on the label. It is best to plant these immediately so that they do not dry out. First, you need to use a sharp spade and dig around the peony plant. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. In colder climates it's a good idea to add a thin layer of mulch to keep new peonies warm. Peonies perform best in well-drained soils in full sun. Nor do they appreciate gardeners fiddling with their roots. Now is a great time. In areas that experience a hard frost early in the autumn, it is best to divide all perennials at least four to six seeks before the ground freezes, making September a good choice. It is not a good idea to divide plants in the heat of summer. Dividing peonies may be done any time the plants are dormant, although the best time of year is in the fall. Peonies have been referred to as the ‘Queen of the Garden’ and they truly deserve this title. September and October are the best months for dividing peonies, after the long, sunny days of summer have supplied the plants with plenty of sunshine to recharge their food reserves underground. I hope that this article has answered any questions you may have had on how to grow peonies and helped to convince you that peonies are straightforward to grow and care for, giving you confidence to grow some yourselves. Dividing. After earning her MA from Colorado State University in Agricultural Education, she has spent the past decade teaching classes in the Plant Sciences. When digging, cut into the rhizome with your tool to divide the clump. It is likely that you will not get all the plant out of the ground. When should you divide perennials? Use pruners to cut back the existing stems and stalks on your plant before you divide it. Daylilies can be divided in early spring, as new growth begins to emerge, or in late summer to early fall. However digging them in mid summer will diminish the show of flowers. Instead, mentally divide the peony into quarters and dig up half. These tips can apply to all your different types of peonies. Aim to transplant the peonies in the fall. While these large-bloomed beauties are content to grow where they are, dividing them up periodically will give you more of them to admire. When can I divide daylilies? A good way to do this is to think of the clump like a circle and choose slices from opposite sides. Peony plants should be very well established before you even consider dividing them. Dig up the entire clump with a spade. Ellis. They are available as single, semi-double and huge fully double shapes in numerous colours including white, yellow, pink, red and very dark burgundy. In early fall, there is less heat stress on your plants than there is at the height of summer. Large,old plants should be dug, divided, and transplanted to improveperformance. Depending on the depth and size of your peony clump, you may have to put a bit of pressure on the rhizome to remove it, so a longer-handled tool can be helpful. The peony is outrageously beautiful in bloom from spring to summer—with lush foliage all summer long. Choose a sunny location that gets at least six hours of sun daily that has well-draining soil and dig a hole that is large enough to hold the full root system of the newly divided pieces. Reply. Growing and Dividing Peonies. With a sharp shovel and a half hour to spare, you can spread their loveliness around the landscape for other generations to enjoy. Shake or wash off the soil, then carefully pull the clump apart. Late summer to early fall, whenever that is where you live. ), Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and Siberian iris (Iris siberica) are best divided in the fall. They have a more delicate root system than the typical herbaceous peony and require a more gentle handling. Divide peony roots into two or three sections, with each section containing tuberous roots and three to five visible growing eyes, or buds, at the top of each section. But after 10 or 15 years, peony blooms slow down, and that’s the time for you to dig, divide, and transplant them. This is when the plant will be dormant, making it safer to move it to another spot. We often use a mini-digger! Choose a sunny location that gets at least six hours of sun daily that has well-draining soil and dig a hole that is large enough to hold the full root system of the newly divided pieces. If root systems are damaged within one to two years, the plant will die. By this time, the peony should be done blooming and entering its dormancy period. Plant the eyes 2 inches below the soil surface in cold regions, 1 inch in warm zones. If you missed my post on exactly how crazy I am over peonies, check it out. January and February would probably be the limit on when to divide a peony in a Southern growing zone. Plants can be divided anytime during the growing season. on Oct 27, 2017. The common garden peony (Paeonia lactiflora), which grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 8, and the fern-leaf (Paeonia tenuifolia) and tree varieties (Paeonia suffruticosa), which grow in USDA zones 4 through 8, thrive in a variety of climates and can easily be propagated through the process of division. These rhizomes send up leaves and stems in the spring and replenish themselves during the summer. Aug 25, 2015 - This Pin was discovered by Vanessa Lochhead. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Dig it 12 to 24 inches deep and then backfill it halfway using more compost than soil. To make sure to allow plants time to put down roots before winter arrives, divide … As perennials go, peonies can be extremely long-lived, growing for up to 100 years. Peonies are normally left in the same location for several years. Plant peony roots with the top 1 inch below the soil surface, and plant daylily roots at the same depth they were planted previously. Posted on December 7, 2013 by Brenda Ibey. You will not see any new growth until the spring. The best time to divide peonies is late summer (September in the Northern Hemisphere) or early fall. In wet autumns, delay until spring. Early fall is another great time to divide perennials, especially peonies. When to move and divide a peony. The best time is in late summer and autumn. However, digging and dividing a peony now in our growing zone should be no problem, as long as there is no snow cover (which is rare here anyway) and the ground is not frozen at the time. Avoid transplanting peonies in summer unless circumstances demand it. This allows the transplants to establish their roots long before the following winter’s frosts. All Rights Reserved. Information on average dates of hard frosts can be found on extension websites for your area. Dividing Peonies in Spring Peonies can be … You want to be sure to dig up as much of the root as possible. It is best to wait until they have finished blooming. Similar to irises (Iris germanica), which grow in USDA zones 3 through 10, peonies have specialized root systems (or modified stems) called rhizomes that grow horizontally underground and store energy for the plant during the dormant months each year. A sharp shovel or spade will do the trick, but a favorite tool for dividing perennials is the sharp, Japanese-style hori hori gardening knife. although in the Summer they look more like a shrub than a flower. Divide peonies in fall after the foliage begins to die back naturally but before frost. This can be any time from October to February. For best growth, peonies need well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. Tackle dividing peonies in summer, and you risk interrupting the production of the plant’s internal food stores that fuel next year’s growth and blooming. In warmer climates where you have not had a hard frost, you may leave some of the stems for appearance, but cutting back fully makes the division process easier. If you dig plants in spring, plants may fail to bloom for a year or two. Loosen the soil with a trowel at least 6 inches from the base of the plants and then lever the trowel beneath the root mass and lift the plants from the ground. Cover each rhizome with at least 3 to 4 inches of soil and press firmly. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! your own Pins on Pinterest In areas that experience a hard frost early in the autumn, it is best to divide all perennials at least four to six seeks before the ground freezes, making September a good choice. The herbaceous peonies bloom early to mid-summer in most places. Depending on the depth and size of your peony clump, you may have to put a bit of pressure on the rhizome to remove it, so a longer-handled tool can be helpful. 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