Transplanting peonies to a new location in the fall

Almost every garden plot and vegetable patch has beds of perennial flowers. Peonies are among the most popular flowering shrubs. Although their blooms are short-lived, they can leave a truly unforgettable impression on their owners during this time. To ensure proper growth, peonies need to be replanted in the fall, once every 3-5 seasons. This will help maintain the plant's health.

Why is a transplant necessary?

Peonies are beautiful plants, pleasing to the eye and capable of growing and blooming without difficulty in the same place for over half a century. However, if left in one spot permanently, they may experience problems. The bush may stop blooming. In this case, it is necessary to replant the bush in the most suitable soil. This should be done in the fall.

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The bush will thrive in a well-lit, draft-free spot. Insufficient light may cause it to stop blooming. The flower loves full sun, but it dislikes excessive heat. Therefore, the best location for peonies is away from fences and other objects that could transfer heat to the bush. If a gardener tries to transplant the bush into constantly moist soil due to nearby water sources, they will not only fail to see flowers bloom, but will also watch the peony rot.

Therefore, if it so happens that the planting site has a high groundwater level, it is best to create a raised bed - this way the plant's roots will not reach a harmful level.

Preparing the bush

Before digging up the flower, make sure the planting site is prepared. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate prepared soil mixed with compost or store-bought soil.

1. You need to dig around the bush carefully so as not to damage the roots too much.
2. Do not touch the root system, that is, do not destroy the earthen lump formed around it.
3. If you were unable to save the root ball, remove all old and damaged roots.
4. Trim the green stems, leaving about 10-15 centimeters from the root zone. This means only the leafless stems should be sticking out.

Once all the steps are completed, you can begin planting. There are no specific regulations or restrictions. You can do it however you like. The bush is perfectly adapted to any growing conditions. Natural and climatic conditions do not affect its flowering or other vital processes. Of course, it's worth remembering that decorative varieties of this perennial flower are more demanding than simple ones.

How is a transplant performed?

It's recommended to begin digging holes for peony transplants in the fall, even in the summer. They should be approximately eighty centimeters in diameter and seventy centimeters deep. If transplanting several bushes close together, the holes should be spaced more than a meter apart.

Drainage material must be placed in the prepared hole. More than half of the hole (approximately two-thirds) should be filled with a soil mixture consisting of garden soil, humus, and sand. It's worth lightly fertilizing the soil and mixing it with the drainage material, then watering.

Before replanting, the prepared soil should be compacted. Before and after planting, carefully monitor the soil's acidity. In Kuban, replanting peonies in the fall is done the same way as in other regions; you can watch videos from professional gardeners to see for yourself. Almost all flowers are easy to care for, especially perennials.

1. To transplant peonies, you need to cut their stems almost to the ground.
2. Afterwards, the plant needs to be carefully dug up – it is recommended to carefully dig it up from below, making a long trench.
3. To avoid damaging the plant's root system, digging should be done at a distance of about thirty centimeters from the outer stems.
4. For maximum convenience, it's recommended to use a pitchfork when removing a pruned peony. Avoid pulling the plant out of the ground by the stems, as this can damage the roots and buds at the base, which begin developing for many years to come.

After removing the bush from the ground, use a shovel to remove excess soil from its roots. Next, place the peony in a shady spot for a couple of hours – this will help its roots become less brittle, which is crucial when repotting.

Since peonies have extensive rhizomes with multiple stems, gardeners can choose the right ones for planting. Choose young peonies (they're light-colored, sometimes white) with a couple of shoots and several buds on the roots. These selected parts should be carefully trimmed with a knife. Any broken or cut areas should be immediately treated with wood ash or a potassium permanganate solution.

The hole is filled with garden soil, compacted well and watered generously (however, it is important to ensure that the peony roots are not flooded).

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Care Features

To ensure rapid growth of the peony, it's important to ensure the buds are covered by at least five centimeters of soil. If the peony is growing in heavy soil, the soil layer should be no more than four centimeters. This should be maintained throughout the plant's life – its successful overwintering and abundant flowering depend on it.

The transplanted plant should be watered regularly, with enough water to provide the peony with sufficient nutrients without damaging its root system. It's important to protect the root zone from frost. Mulch is ideal for this purpose.

Since plants buried in the ground are located below the young roots, it is recommended to feed and fertilize the plant - preferably together with watering.

Immediately after replanting peonies in the fall, it's recommended to begin preparing the plants for winter. Towards the end of October, all shoots should be cut back to the ground and the soil should be thoroughly loosened, after being thoroughly watered. Since autumn is a fairly rainy time of year, watering the plant is not necessary. If the weather is warm and dry, the plant will still need watering.

Pruning a bush in spring

During the peony's first spring in its new location, it is recommended to cut off all its flowers. The bush has not yet established itself in its new location. If you remove all the buds, all the nutrients the plant receives will be used to form and develop roots, which will result in longer flowering next year, and larger buds.

Undoubtedly, the peony is a very capricious plant, which is why, when moved to a new location, it may refuse to bloom. To overcome this problem and once again enjoy the flower's indescribable beauty, it is necessary to identify the source of this behavior.

As mentioned above, peony bushes are very demanding when it comes to light. If a gardener isn't entirely sure whether the plant will thrive in its new location, it's best not to take any risks.

The first year in a new location is the most difficult for a plant. Therefore, to help it settle in and grow faster, it's recommended to fertilize it generously. You don't need to buy expensive fertilizer—regular manure will do (water the plant with a well-rotted solution).

One of the most common reasons for a peony's failure to bloom is improper planting. If the plant is too deeply buried, dig it up and replant it properly. If the opposite problem occurs, hilling up the soil will help.

Provision of mineral components and fertilizers

A lack of nutrients is the most obvious reason for a peony's failure to bloom. During the first year, when the plant's root system is still weak and the peony hasn't had time to adapt to its new location, it's important to provide it with sufficient nutrients. This will help the plant adjust more quickly to its new location, grow roots, and adapt.

The timing of transplanting peonies to another location in the fall is also important.

Caring for any plant relies on the use of high-quality mineral fertilizers and compost. This means creating the right combination of components that will truly benefit peonies. Compost is applied at a shallow depth during planting or mixed with the soil. Mineral fertilizers are applied in the spring or summer, depending on the condition of the flower.

Incorrect or untimely leaf pruning can also prevent a peony from displaying its buds. When cutting off buds (no matter how many years the plant has been growing in the same spot), it is absolutely necessary to avoid trimming the leaves from the stem. In the first year of flowering, it is acceptable to leave the bush bare of all buds; in subsequent years, it is recommended to trim no more than a third. It is not recommended to trim the foliage until the first frost.

Pest control

Regardless of how long a peony has been growing in the same spot, it's important to ensure it's not susceptible to disease or pest attacks. Newly transplanted plants require especially careful monitoring during the first year, even though peonies are relatively resistant to various diseases.

One of the most common peony diseases is rust. Tiny bugs attack peony buds, sucking out the sap, thereby depriving the gardener of blooms.

These bugs should be collected and removed from the plant daily, and the leaves and shoots should be sprayed with a specially prepared solution (for example, a 1% Bordeaux mixture). It is recommended to do this in the spring, before the buds have formed, to reduce the chance of pests attacking the flower. Repeat this treatment every ten days.

In late autumn, when frosts begin, peony stems should be cut back to the ground, removed, and the soil thoroughly watered. Transplanting roses in the fall in the Moscow region is no different from other regions. Follow the instructions carefully and you'll achieve maximum results.

If your peony is many years old and seems hopeless, don't despair. You can remedy the situation by replanting it in the fall. After this, the plant is very likely to bloom again.