Keep them well away from other large plants that might compete for nutrients.
The only other regular maintenance peonies require is the removal of the foliage and thorough fall cleanup.
Soil
Peonies can grow in many different soils as long as the soil is fertile and well-drained.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Avoid wet locations where water pools.
When adding amendments to the soil, verify to mix them in deeply.
Peonies prefer a relatively neural soil pH but will tolerate mild acidity.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Generally speaking, Chinese peonies do not require extra watering in regions with regular rainfall.
About one inch of water weekly, through a combination of rainfall and irrigation, is the standard.
They need winter chill to induce the full dormancy that resets the growth buds.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Chinese peonies dont do well in strong heat and humidity, especially during the bloom period.
Fertilizer
Chinese peonies generally dont need fertilizer unless the soil is lacking in nutrients.
Other Types of Peonies
In addition to the Chinese peonies and hundred cultivars ofP.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Because the plant stems are very sturdy, the flowers are less susceptible to flopping.
Tree peonies are hardy in zones 4 to 8.
These are quite expensive plants, however.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
They have the large showy flowers of tree peonies on plants that more closely resemble Chinese peonies.
Fern-leafed peonies, includePaeonia tenuifoliaand a few cultivars.
These delicate plants have dark red flowers and beautiful fern-like foliage quite unlike the other peony types.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Pruning
Spent flowers should be deadheaded to prevent fungal diseases and to keep the plants attractive.
Cut off the flower stalks down to just above a strong leaf.
In the fall, cut the entire plant back to just above ground level.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Remove and destroy the debris to eliminate fungal spores that might reinfect the plant in spring.
If you want to grow them this way, choose dwarf hybrids, also called patio peonies.
It is merely unsightly and does not harm the plants.
Here, too, a thorough fall cleanup helps prevent the plants from getting reinfected in the following year.
The ants that often cover peony blossoms are utterly harmless, drawn to the nectar in the flowers.
Try digging up the plant and planting it a little shallower.
Be careful not to overfeed, though, as excess fertilizer can also hinder blooms.
A plant that is harvested too heavily for cut flowers may also respond with reduced blooms the following year.
To ensure a good annual display, never harvest more than one-third of the flowers for cut arrangements.
Or, plant varieties with single or anemone-key in flower petals.
Flowers Are Covered With Ants
Don’t worry.
This is entirely normal, as ants are drawn to the sweet nectar and scent of the flowers.
After the spring flowering season is complete, they will provide a shrub-like form in the garden.
Once established, a peony can easily live 50 years or more, and century-old plants are common.
Old plants do not like to be moved, however, so it’s best to avoidtransplanting them.
Peony Disorders.University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.
Paeonia suffruticosa.North Carolina State Extension Plant Finder
The Beloved Peony.PennState Extension
The Mother’s Day Peony.Perdue University Extension
