NW PEONY PLANTING & CARE
Who isn't captivated with the lush blooms of the peony? We still get excited when peonies begin arriving! Alex LaVilla, our Senior Horticulturalist, has a few planting and care tips to help you be sure your peony is as happy and productive as it can be.
Photo credit: Katherine Anderson
Peonies are not hard to grow, but they do require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Annual spring feeding will help assure a plethora of lovely blooms. With proper planting and a little care, your peonies will provide years of beauty and enjoyment with a minimal amount of trouble.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Dig a large hole at least 18" deep and 24" wide. Fill the bottom of the hole with rich, humus-y soil and plenty of compost, composted manure, or peat moss.
Add 1-2 cups all-purpose organic fertilizer.
Lightly tamp this mixture and water well.
Carefully remove the plant from its pot and loosen up any circling or compacted roots.
Place it in the partially filled hole, back-filling with a similar soil mixture as you go. Make sure the top of the plant's bud "eyes" are no more than 2 inches below the top soil level when planting is complete, taking into account any additional mulch layer that you will add.
Water in well to complete the process.
Peonies are normally available in pots in early spring. Some gardeners advise leaving the plant in its pot until fall before transplanting it into the ground anytime from late September through early December. Others believe you can plant your peony right away in the spring. We’ve had success with both methods but, if you do wait until fall to plant, you may sink the entire pot in the ground where it is to be planted later, as a temporary measure (be sure to add an inch or two of gravel to the soil below the pot to ensure proper drainage).
Peonies in bloom at the Seattle Chinese Garden
CARE FOR ESTABLISHED PLANTS
Spring & Summer
The second spring after planting, top dress 6"-12" from the crown of the plant with an all-purpose organic fertilizer.
Peonies are relatively drought-tolerant once established. Care should be taken, however, to water during periods of active growth in the spring and late summer to ensure proper bud growth.
Fall & Winter
After your peony puts on a marvelous display of color in the fall, cut the browning foliage of herbaceous peonies to the ground and mulch with a couple of inches of compost. Cut ITOH peonies, leaving 4”-5” of woody stems. Do not cut back tree peonies. Now, sit back and relax while you wait for an even more beautiful plant next season!
Diseases
Botrytis is the only disease that affects peonies. It is characterized by drooping, blackened or scorched-looking foliage and dried up flower buds. Remove any signs of diseased material from the plant, cleaning your pruners with an alcohol solution between each cut. Do not compost diseased material! Spray the plant with a copper-based fungicide to help control the disease.
This post was updated for 2023.