But there are times when you may be faced with losing the plant if you dont move it.
Learn about the timing and steps required to complete a successful peony transplant.
For peonies, fall is the ideal time to dig up the plants.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
In the fall, peonies arepreparing for dormancy.
Their metabolism slows, causing growth and development to stop.
This change helps perennial plants save energy, and minimizes stress to roots during the move.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Choose a site that gets at least six hours offull suneach day.
The north side of your home will not provide this.
Prepare the Soil
Peonies need soil with good drainage.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Mix it in 50/50 with the native soil.
Measure at least 18 inches from the crown when you start digging.
Do not lift the plant by the stems; breakage will ensue.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Identify the Eyes
Peony planting depth is a critical matter that will determine future blooming for decades.
To determine the ideal planting depth, locate the eyes on the peony rootball.
These eye buds are next year’s flowering stems.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
If you bury them too deeply, they will never emerge and develop.
place the eyes just beneath the soil’s surface,no morethan 2 inches deep.
This is true even in cold climates.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
No worries, as these dormant eye buds will not be damaged by frigid winters.
Plant the Peony
Fill the planted hole by hand with your amended soil.
Water well, but don’t oversaturate the soil.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
It shouldn’t be necessary to water again unless your weather forecaster says that a true drought is happening.
The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
