About planting peonies in the fall and caring for them in open ground

Peonies: How, why, and why to plant and care for them outdoors in autumn? We'll cover the answers to these questions, as well as other important steps in caring for these beautiful flowers, in detail in this article. Don't be alarmed, as caring for peonies is generally quite simple and straightforward. The key is knowing where to start.

Peonies are perennial plants that require a bloom with the arrival of autumn. special careAt least if you want lush bushes to delight you with beautiful blooms and vigorous growth next year. By following strict care instructions in the fall, you'll be able to admire robust blooms throughout the winter.

Autumn pruning

Peonies: Planting and caring for them outdoors in the fall (see photo) includes essential pruning. It's even safe to say that pruning is the most important of all the fall care steps. If you ignore pruning, the resulting soft shoots in the spring will be difficult to remove with pruning shears. The best time to prune these flowers growing outdoors is the second half of October and the first ten days of November.

It's not recommended to prune before the end of October, otherwise the plant will become weak and vulnerable to diseases and pests. Peonies pruned earlier than the end of October will bloom poorly in the spring. Therefore, it's best to plan for the first frost, when the spent shoots have already fallen to the ground. Prune at ground level to avoid leaving any stumps.

About planting peonies in autumn

Lush peony bushes delight with their attractive and rich appearance. However, only strong and well-developed bushes bloom so profusely. To ensure that such plants grow in your garden, you'll need to put in some extra effort.

It's best to plant peony bushes in the first month of autumn, and in hotter regions, it's recommended to complete the process by the end of August. Peonies prefer bright, sunny spots. Some shade is acceptable, but don't overdo it. If peonies are planted in the shade, they will grow poorly and won't bloom. Also, the site chosen for planting new peony bushes should be well-ventilated. Insufficient air circulation will cause the peonies to suffer from various fungal diseases.

Peonies: planting and care in open ground In autumn, avoid planting in areas too close to the groundwater table. Excessive moisture can cause root rot, leading to the death of the plant. Dry, sandy or clayey soils are completely unsuitable for growing peonies. To improve the mechanical absorption of the soil, you can, in the former case, add a little clay. In the latter case, if the soil is clayey, add a little sand. Acidic soils require additional fertilization with lime.

About autumn transplantation

Besides the fact that peonies need to be planted and cared for outdoors in the fall, older bushes may require additional repotting. Fortunately, these flowers don't require repotting for ten years, but once the time has come, there's no way to avoid the process.

The velvet season in autumn is the ideal time for replanting. If the gardener didn't manage to replant during this time, it's best to prepare the bushes for winter as usual and replant them in the spring. However, it's best to try to complete the process in the fall; by spring, the roots will have adapted to the new soil, and the bush will bloom vigorously, without interruption, and as soon as the first snow melts, it will begin its active growth. It's helpful to read about Columbine: Planting and care in open ground with photos.

Important! Repotting peonies in spring is possible, but the bush will be sick during the spring and is unlikely to bloom. In spring, be especially careful with the roots and avoid attempting to divide the bush.

As you can see, peonies: planting and caring for them outdoors in the fall requires knowledge of specific agricultural practices. But it's crucial to complete everything on time and on schedule. Replanting is only done after 10 years of growth in the same location, and this process must be completed during the peak autumn season. Pruning should not begin before the end of October, but should be completed by mid-November. As for fall planting, it begins in September, and in hotter regions, it can be completed as early as late summer.