Preparing peonies for winter: pruning time

Peonies Peonies are among those species that require less intensive care during flowering. In summer, the same care is given to the shrubs as to other spring flowers. Autumn care and winter preparation are crucial for peonies. During the autumn months, the bushes need protection from cold and various diseases. Experienced gardeners follow a list of steps to prepare plants for the cold. Those just beginning to grow flowers need to know when to prune peonies for the winter, what to fertilize them with, and whether they need to be covered for the winter.

Autumn care rules for peonies

Spring and summer care includes regular watering, loosening the soil around the roots, weeding, and removing buds that are finishing blooming. Fall peony care involves pruning, fertilizing, and covering the bush during cold weather. To help the bushes survive severe frosts, follow these steps:

1. They feed the flowering shrubs.
2. If necessary, some shrubs are being transplanted to a new place.
3. The bushes are trimmed.
4. Cover the soil with mulch.

This list of measures is necessary to prepare the plant for winter. Nothing special needs to be done; these general steps are usually sufficient.

Features of preparation for winter

Preparing plants for winter is done at a strictly defined time, as the flowering of the shrubs next season depends on it. Buds begin to form approximately six weeks after flowering. Improper preparation can result in shrubs dying from frost, becoming infested with harmful insects, or becoming infected with fungal diseases. Therefore, it's important to learn how to prune peonies properly, what to feed them with, and when.

The Importance of Fall Pruning

Beginner gardeners prune their shrubs after flowering, as wilting shrubs can greatly spoil the appearance of flower beds. Plant experts believe it's best to prune when cold weather sets in. What will benefit your shrubs?

1. Before the onset of winter cold, plants restore their root system.
2. The root tubers accumulate moisture so that the flowers can germinate in the spring.
3. Peonies store energy after the flowering period ends.

Should I cut back the bush for the winter?

Beginning gardeners are concerned about the need to prune shrubs. They believe that pruning is only necessary when plants are infested with bacteria, fungi, or pests. For them, yellowing and drying foliage is the normal end of a life cycle. However, pests prefer wilted foliage for wintering. Therefore, such pruning is always recommended in the fall, before the end of the growing season and winter dormancy.

When to prune bushes in autumn or spring

Gardeners must understand when to prune peonies in the fall or leave them for spring. Timing is crucial. The first pruning is done after the bushes finish blooming. However, only the buds themselves are removed, leaving the stems and leaves intact. It's important to note that after flowering, photosynthesis continues in the stems and remaining foliage. The plant regains strength for further bulb growth and accumulates energy to survive the winter frosts. Therefore, the final pruning of the leaves is done later, after the first steady frost sets in.

Trimming sequence

Pruning peonies requires a certain sequence of actions:

1. First, the instruments are prepared and, if necessary, disinfected.
2. The shoots are cut, leaving a length of 2 cm so that the bush can continue to grow.
3. For tree peonies, only the leaves are cut off.
4. After removing the stems, you need to add fertilizer to the soil and dig the soil near the bush, loosening the root circle.
5. The leaves and stems are cut and piled together and burned or dumped in a compost pit.

Instructions

Pruning common peony bushes is simple. This process begins when the foliage begins to freeze to the ground. Frosts begin at different times depending on the climate zone, so there's no set date. The appearance of the peony in your garden is a guide. The stem is cut almost completely, leaving just 2-4 centimeters of the stem protruding from the ground.

Tree peony pruning in the fall follows a different approach. Formative pruning is done when the goal is to enhance the bush's appearance, increase the number of buds, or increase the size of the flower by removing side shoots. Stems are shortened to a maximum of a meter in height. This will help the plant grow denser and produce more blooms. Furthermore, pruned stems are much easier to cover before the winter cold sets in.

Tree peonies need to be pruned every 10 years to rejuvenate their appearance. If the bush isn't blooming as profusely or stops blooming altogether, it's time for a refresher pruning. Old shoots are removed, encouraging new growth. With consistent, proper care, the shrub's lifespan is approximately 70 years.

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Peony care after pruning, fertilizing

Peonies should be fed before winter dormancy, 10-14 days before the first frost. This is approximately from the second half of September to the first half of October. Fertilizer is added on dry, warm days. It is important that the fertilizer contains phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients help the root system grow and strengthen, giving it strength for the long dormancy period.

Methods of applying fertilizer:

• dry;
• liquid.

If the fall is dry, mix the fertilizer with water and pour it under the roots. In rainy autumns, scatter the granules around the stems, lightly compacting them into the soil, or sprinkle the fertilizer on the soil loosened with a rake.

The positive effect of such feeding

Some gardeners consider this method of fertilizing plants pointless, but it has its advantages:

1. By the next season the buds become stronger.
2. Flowering appears more intense.
3. The flowers are larger and the color is richer and brighter.
4. Thanks to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, plants better tolerate winter cold and grow stronger and more resilient.

Protecting peonies during winter cold

Often, simply pruning shrubs and fertilizing isn't enough. For regions with long, harsh, and cold winters and very little snow, covering plants for the winter is essential to avoid losing them.

First, hill up the bushes. This is done very carefully, as the new season's buds are located at a depth of no more than 10 cm. Apply a layer of mulch about 18 cm thick on top. The following can be used as mulch:

• humus;
• compost;
• dry leaves;
• wood sawdust.

With the onset of warm weather, the cover must be removed to allow air to enter. Ventilation will help prevent rot.

A snowy winter is another natural stage of plant protection from the cold. Snow prevents freezing during severe frosts.

How does preparing a tree peony for winter differ?

In those places where strong cold winds do not rage in winter, tree peonies They don't require additional shelter. However, young bushes require protection from the cold, so apply a twenty-centimeter layer of peat and cover the stems with an inverted bucket, basin, or other container of suitable height and diameter.

It is recommended to prune tree peonies not in winter, like regular varieties, but in the spring.

Preparing shrubs for winter in different climate zones

Different regions of Russia have different winter temperatures. Everything depends on the climate, so shrubs need to be prepared for winter differently.

1. Siberia. Since this region is colder than all others, plants need to be prepared for frost more thoroughly. Stems are covered with a thick layer of mulch and then covered with boxes, buckets, or other containers that serve as shelter.
2. The Urals. In this region, peonies also require additional cover, and the entire process is exactly the same as in Siberia.
3. Volga region. Simply applying a layer of mulch is sufficient; covering with any protective containers is not necessary.
4. Central climate zone. In case of frosty and snowless winter, bushes are covered, but more extensive preparation is not required.

Typical mistakes

Beginner gardeners often make mistakes when preparing their shrubs for the winter months. Some of these mistakes are particularly common:

1. Plants are pruned too early, before the first frost, for the sake of the appearance of the flower bed.
2. Dry leaves are cut not in the fall, but at the beginning of the spring season, which creates the conditions for the development of diseases and reduces the plant's "immunity."
3. On rainy days, adding liquid fertilizers can make the situation worse. This prevents the roots from fully absorbing the fertilizer, washing nutrients across the soil surface rather than concentrating them in the tubers.
4. Peonies are covered incorrectly before the cold weather, without taking into account the characteristics of their region, which leads to the death of the bush.

Peony planting depth

When planting peonies, consider their depth. The buds should be at least 4 centimeters deep. If planted deeper, the bushes will bloom poorly, although they will produce a sufficient number of shoots, but they will not produce a full bloom. If planted shallower than 4 cm, the peony bushes will be killed by frost, and new ones will have to be planted next season.

Disease prevention in autumn

To protect the plant from fungi after the autumn leaves fall, the bushes are treated with a three percent solution of copper sulfate or a two percent Bordeaux mixture.

To make peonies more resistant to various diseases and frost, fertilizers containing phosphorus or potassium are used. It's best to alternate different fertilizers for best results.

Conclusion

Preparing peonies for winter is an important process for gardeners. It's important to follow all instructions to ensure lush, blooming peony bushes next season. Mistakes can lead to dangerous fungal infections or insect damage. Therefore, these shrubs require special care in the fall and careful protection from frost.