Spring fertilizing of peonies for lush flowering

To ensure peonies continue to delight the eye with their gorgeous flowers for a long time, they need to be fed regularly. This will help them adapt well after repotting. However, it's important to follow certain rules and know which fertilizers to use. Spring fertilization of flowers promotes rapid growth, successful budding, and lush flowering.

Time and schedule of plant fertilization

The quality of any fertilizer is directly related not only to its ingredients but also to the timing of application, as plants require different nutrients at different stages of the growing season. Therefore, some formulations are suitable only for spring use, while others are suitable for fall use.

How to feed young peonies

During the first two years after planting, there's no need to apply root nutrient mixtures if the soil has been adequately fertilized. During this period, watering, loosening the soil, and weeding are sufficient for peonies.

Foliar feeding immediately after planting

1. Urea. Dilute 40-50 g of the component in 10 liters of water. This procedure is carried out in early spring using a sprayer, when the flowers are waking up and starting to grow.
2. The plants are treated a second time after 10-15 days. One micronutrient tablet is added to the urea solution.
3. The third treatment is carried out 10-15 days later. For this, two microelement tablets are dissolved in 10 liters of water; urea is not added.

2nd and 3rd feedings can be combined with root watering with compounds that activate root development:

1. 5 g of sodium humate per 10 liters of water.
2. 2 tablets of heteroauxin per 10 liters of water.

During the first two years of growth, peonies need to develop strong roots and vigorous bushes. To achieve this, experts recommend not only fertilizing the plants but also cutting off flower buds early in the growing season. Lush blooms are only possible from the third year onward.

What nutrients are needed for peonies aged 3-7 years?

Mature plants decorate the garden with bright flowers. By the age of three, each bush has 10-15 stems. From this point on, peonies require constant mineral feeding. This should be done at least three times during the growing season. The correct dosage and timing are crucial. Overfeeding is just as important as underfeeding.

The first stage

In early spring, when the snow melts, add 10-15 g of nitrogen and 15-20 g of potassium per plant to the soil. Urea can also be added. Sprinkle the mixture around the plant and insert it into the depressions.

The second stage

Coincides with the budding phase. One bush receives 10 g of nitrogen, 15-20 g of phosphorus, and 10-15 g of potassium, dissolved in 10 liters of water. The fertilizer is applied to the roots.

The third stage

This is done two weeks after flowering. The previous aqueous solution is added to the root.

How to fertilize 8-10 year old peonies

For mature flowers, the amount of mineral fertilizer should be increased by 1.5 times. For plants over 8 years old, slurry is recommended as a fertilizer. It is applied once during bud formation.

To prepare the solution, take 1 liter of fresh mullein and place it in 10 liters of water. This can be replaced with 500 ml of bird droppings. Add 40-50 g of superphosphate to the solution and leave for 10-12 days. Before use, dilute the mixture with water in a 1:1 ratio.

The feeding instructions are as follows: make a small furrow 10-15 cm deep around the peonies at a distance of 20 cm. One bucket of the mixture is used per bush.

Fertilizer options

Flowers primarily require nitrogen-containing compounds, followed by phosphorus and potassium. If you want the flowers to be very lush, you should prepare fertilizers containing magnesium, iron, boron, zinc, and copper, which peonies also require, but in smaller quantities. All these nutrients can be delivered to plants through two methods: root and basal.

Root feeding

In early spring, mineral fertilizers scattered around the flowers provide excellent nourishment. They are absorbed into the soil by melting snow and quickly reach the roots, which nourish the entire bush from within. With the arrival of summer, gardeners will need to apply two root fertilizers, which are simply scattered under the bushes and then watered thoroughly.

Foliar feeding

It's used for many crops, but is especially important for peonies, as it promotes lush summer blooms. Young and mature bushes require monthly fertilizing mixtures, and gardeners themselves decide what to include.

Plants respond well to watering from a watering can with a strainer on the spout. For this, use a mineral fertilizer, such as "Ideal," and to help it adhere to the leaves, add a little washing powder or laundry soap, 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water.

Scheme for foliar feeding of peonies:

1. The first time the procedure is performed after the above-ground portion of the plant has sprouted, a urea solution is used at a ratio of 50 g of the component per 10 liters of water.
2. The second feeding is done a few weeks after the first, combining a urea solution with special tablets.
3. The third treatment is timed after the bush has finished flowering. For this, use two tablets of micronutrient fertilizer diluted in 10 liters of water.

Organic fertilizers

To ensure proper growth and bloom, flowers should be nourished in the fall. This will ensure the soil and root system contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. These components are found in large quantities in organic matter.

Typically, in the fall, flowers are fed with manure, compost, or humus, which are simply placed on the beds under the bushes. As these mixtures rot, all the nutrients are released, gradually penetrating the plant's root system.

Organic matter has another important advantage: it prevents the soil from freezing, as the decomposition process releases heat, which is essential for peonies during the cold season.

As soon as the first frost occurs, the shoots freeze and are almost level with the soil, and then mulched with fallen leaves, humus or compost.

You can add 300 g of ash, 200 g of bone meal, or both under the mulch. These ingredients are scattered around the bush and lightly dug in. If you reinforce this success with high-quality spring fertilizing, abundant blooms are guaranteed for your peonies.

Plants that have been kept in the same area for a long time can be fed with the ready-to-use organic fertilizer "Baikal EM-1," which contains live microorganisms. These improve the soil's composition and fertility. Before use, mix the fertilizer with compost, then use it as a mulch. The mulch should be a maximum thickness of 7-10 cm.

Mineral fertilizers

Such mixtures can be found in gardening stores. A prime example of this category is "Kemira," which is used three times per season.

In the spring, before the peonies bloom, apply Kemira-Universal. A week after they finish blooming, feed them again. This is easy: simply sprinkle a small amount of the mixture on top and cover it with soil.

For the second feeding, use "Kemira-Combi," which doesn't require digging in. The contents of the packet are poured onto the flower bed and watered thoroughly.

A complex composition, for example, “Ideal”, dissolved in water according to the instructions, can also serve as a foliar fertilizer.

Another product containing multiple nutrients is called "Siliplant." It improves plant tissue strength and flower resilience. Peonies with improved immunity will be less susceptible to disease and will thrive, so this fertilizer is often considered a growth activator. Bushes are treated with a solution of 2-3 ml of the product per 1 liter of water.

Folk remedies

Gardeners often feed peonies with bread. It's simple: soak half a loaf in water with sugar. In the morning, strain the mixture and pour it into a bucket of water, then apply it to the young plants.

A similar fertilizer is made using yeast. A loaf of bread is replaced with 100 g of the baking product. This mixture begins to ferment quickly.

Another simple fertilizer is made from chicken manure. Dissolve 0.5 liters of this substance in a bucket of water. Let the mixture sit for two weeks, then dilute it in a 1:3 ratio. Add a little ash to enhance the effect.