How to transplant peonies to a new location in the fall

Peonies are considered among the most beautiful flowers to grow in gardens, cottages, or orchards, and they don't require meticulous care. However, with the arrival of autumn, these flowers require attention and care to ensure they continue to delight with their bright, large blooms for a long time to come.

 

The key to beautiful peony bushes is proper repotting. With over seventy species of peonies worldwide, any flower lover can easily find a bud of the desired color, size, and shape.

 

Of course, the most important question to consider is when to repot peonies. It's preferable to repot peonies in the fall, ideally between late August and September, as this is when the rains begin and the heat subsides. This is beneficial for newly planted plants, as it allows the rhizomes to develop quickly and provide the plant with the necessary nutrition.

First, you need to decide on a location for transplanting flowers, and there are several simple rules for this:

 

— It is recommended to avoid planting near a building, because in the summer, when the heat is unbearable, the building heats up and the heat that escapes from the house quickly destroys the flowers.

— it is necessary to prepare the holes that will be used for transplanting in advance.

— It is best to choose a location that is elevated and has some shade in the afternoon, so that the plant receives both light and coolness equally.

 

Here are a few words about how to prepare the soil:

 

— preparation must begin two weeks in advance;

- you should dig a hole that is not very deep, about fifty centimeters.

— organic and mineral fertilizers must be added to the prepared hole and the soil must be pressed down thoroughly so that it can be saturated with fertilizers during the downtime.

After two weeks, you can begin the replanting process. Now comes the second question: how to transplant peonies to a new location in the fall without harming them. To do this, carefully dig up the peony bush without damaging it. Be sure not to damage the roots! After this, gently shake the soil off the roots, preferably by hand, simply shaking off any excess rather than slamming the plant into the ground. If you plan to transplant the entire bush, carefully transplant the flower into the prepared hole. However, if you are trying to separate the peonies, you should separate the rhizomes with a knife that has been previously rinsed in a solution of potassium permanganate. It is imperative to ensure that each "new" root has at least three buds. If there are fewer, flowering will take significantly longer. After this, transplant the new plants into the holes as in the first method. After replanting, water the peonies.

There are also some small tricks that gardeners who have been doing their favorite thing for a long time develop with experience:

 

— it is best to transplant not young plants that have been blooming for more than three years;

— Several months before the procedure, peonies should be pruned. Leave about ten to fifteen centimeters from the trunk to allow the roots to gain strength;

— In the first two years, it is recommended to trim young flowers so that the peonies will bloom with large buds later.

If you follow all the rules and treat your plants with love, repotting will be a success the first time. You'll be able to preserve not only the beauty you have now but also acquire a new one that will delight everyone. Remember that repotting is painstaking work that can take more than one day. Therefore, it's best to take your time and do everything efficiently and correctly. Then, next summer, your garden will be awash with the bounty of peonies.

 

Even more about planting peonies in the fall Read our article here.