How do you plant a peony ?To obtain the best results in peony cultivation, pay very special attention to the planting process.

Planting bare roots should be done between September and mid-March.
 It is better to plant peonies in the autumn so that the root system can grow before the leaves come out.
Planting can be done during the winter period even with frost during the night as long as it disappears during the daytime.
 After March, due to the growing of leaves and vegetation, it is not recommended to plant bare root peonies.
If you want to plant later, we offer cultivated plants in containers that you can buy either from our nursery or at the flower shows we go to.

 Tip : In case of frost when you receive our plants, place the parcel in a cool area – a cellar or a garage - and open the parcel. The individually packed plants can remain for a month in their packaging without any harm.

Peonies need to be planted in full sun.
Try not to get them too close to other plants because peonies don't compete well with other trees and bushes.
Avoid planters or pots.

 The best type of soil is humus bearing clay loam, well drained and permeable.
Before planting improve the soil by adding sand and peat to make it loose and mellow and by adding organic fertilizer, i.e. manure, thoroughly rotted compost, blood meal, cornaille…
Avoid chemical fertilizers with high levels of nitrogen. The soil can be either slightly alkaline or acid.
 Do not over water the plants, make sure the soil is well-drained.

TREE PEONIES.

 Give them a surface are of about 1.20 to 1.50 m2. Deep rip the soil to 40 cm and mix the soil carefully with organic fertilizer.
 Plant the graft 5 to 10 cm deep while taking particular care of the roots and rootlets.
 Since the plants are very small at the beginning, we suggest marking the spot to avoid someone stepping on it.

HERBACEOUS PEONIES.

 Give them a surface are of about 1.20 to 1.50 m2. Deep rip the soil to 40 cm and mix the soil carefully with organic fertilizer.
 Plant the graft, make sure the eye is covered by 2 to 3 cm of soil and take particular care of the roots and rootlets.
 For plants in containers cover the soil of the container completely.

WATER FRESH SOIL AND WELL-DRAINED

Do not over water your peonies.  Watering once a week is enough in the dry summer season during the first two years.  Most of the time rain water is enough.  For established peonies, water them before blossoming and in August/September.

FERTILIZER: DEEP SET ORGANIC FERTILIZER

Peonies should be fed each year by adding a considerable quantity of fertilizer. Spread out a substantial quantity of well-aged manure, horn meal, bone meal or organic matter and compost hoed into the soil.

TAKING CARE OF THE SOIL : HOEING AFTER RAIN FALL

This is the most important task to take care of peonies. Hoe regularly around the peonies, not too deeply under the foliage to avoid damaging the roots. Hoe largely around the plant. Prefer hoeing to mulch which retains humidity – not good for peonies.

PRUNING: JUST SLIGHTLY

TREE PEONIES.

Tree peonies do not need trimming. However trimming back at the end of the winter could be useful to give the peony tree a particular shape, to cut down too long foliage or to balance out the plant.
 It can be done over a 2 to 3 year period to avoid sparse flowering.
 Dead wood should always be cut.

HERBACEOUS PEONIES.

 In August/September, your herbaceous peonies should be cut down to 10 cm high.
 Burn the dry foliage to avoid fungus development.

TREE PEONIES.

 Patience is needed because it takes a few years to get abundant flowering.
Cut wilted flower just above the last leaf bud.

HERBACEOUS PEONIES.

 If you cut the flowers to make bouquets, please leave 2 or 3 leaves at the base of each stem so the vegetative cycle of your peonies is not disrupted.
 Eliminate wilted flowers.