How And When To Transplant Peonies For Better Blooms

It’s easy to fall in love with peonies. Their fragrant, oversized flowers don’t stick around long enough when they bloom each spring. While their season is short—some types bloom only for one to two weeks—there is a way to enjoy more peonies without buying new ones. Divide your peonies and transplant them elsewhere in your yard. When they bloom again, you’ll have even more flowers to admire in the garden and to cut for indoor displays. It’s also an easy way to gift peonies to friends and family. Peonies are easy to transplant, so if they aren’t blooming or thriving, you can move them to a new spot to help them grow. Because they are considered an heirloom plant, many homeowners will dig them up and bring them along when they move. Why start again when you can bring your well-loved peonies with you? Whatever the reason for moving them, follow along to learn how to transplant peonies and the best time to do it.

Types Of Peonies

Herbaceous Peonies

These are the most common garden variety of peonies (Paeonia lactiflora). Their soft, non-woody stems grow to 2 to 3 feet tall, and they die back completely in winter. New growth emerges from underground buds each spring.

Tree Peonies

Tree peonies (P. suffruticosa) grow taller than other varieties, about 3 to 5 feet tall or more. These deciduous shrubs lose their leaves like trees do in the fall, but they do not die back in winter like herbaceous and Itoh peonies. The bare branches remain dormant through winter and develop buds for next year’s blooms.

Itoh Peonies

Also called intersectional peonies (P. x itoh), these hybrid plants are a cross between traditional herbaceous peonies and tree types, with features of both. Show-stopping blooms grow on strong, woody stems that die back in winter. Blooming lasts for six weeks.

Why Peonies Should Be Transplanted

There are several reasons for transplanting peonies, and fewer blooms can indicate that it’s time. They typically need to be transplanted every 10 to 15 years. Nearby plants may be crowding out your peony’s roots or casting shade over the plants. A peony that was planted too deeply or doesn’t get enough sun can stop blooming or produce fewer flowers over time. Homeowners who are moving may want to take their peonies along, or it’s common to divide and transplant peonies to share. Moving peonies to a better location can improve their growth and blooming, but know that peonies don’t like it when their roots are disturbed. It can take one or two seasons for them to develop strong root systems and bloom again, so be patient.

When To Transplant Peonies

Depending on the variety and the region they are grown in, peonies bloom in late spring to early summer. In order to protect new spring growth, transplanting them should be done when they go dormant in the fall, typically in September or October when herbaceous and Itoh peonies no longer have new growth and die back, and after tree peonies lose their leaves. Make sure to transplant peonies before the ground freezes where you live.

How To Transplant Peonies

Because herbaceous, tree, and Itoh peonies have different growth habits, they also have different needs when it comes to how to transplant them. While the process of transplanting is the same, preparing different types of peonies varies.

Prepare the peony for transplanting. For herbaceous peonies, cut back the foliage to about 2 or 3 inches above the ground. Cut Itoh peonies to the point where the green stems become woody. Tree peonies should not be cut. You can remove any foliage from the main stem, but leave the woody stems intact.
Choose a sunny location that’s not shaded by other plants. Less light can cause the stems to flop. Make sure the soil is well-draining.
Remove any mulch and debris from around the plant’s base.
Use a shovel to carefully dig around the peony, about 12 to 18 inches out from the crown so you don’t hit the roots. If necessary, dig out farther so you don’t disturb them.
Carefully loosen and lift the plant and roots out of the hole without cutting the roots.
Shake away any loose dirt or rinse the roots so the pink, red, or white eyes are visible. Trim away any soft or rotting roots with a clean, sharp knife.
For herbaceous or Itoh divisions, use the knife to divide the root clump into several pieces, making sure there are three to five eyes and healthy roots in each new part. For tree peonies, only those with multiple stems can be divided. After digging it up, determine where to cut the plant so each new section will have a few stems, 6 inches of large fat root, and lots of smaller roots. Use pruners to make the cut.
Dig a new hole that is double the width of the current root system. It should be deep enough so the eyes rest 1 or 2 inches below the soil’s surface. Soil should be loose and well-draining. Amend heavy or sandy soils if needed. If you have more than one plant in an area, space them 3 to 4 feet apart.
Fill in the hole with soil, tamping it down to remove air pockets, and water deeply. Continue regular weekly watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy until the ground freezes.
Add a layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch to protect the roots from freezing temperatures. No fertilizer is necessary until spring.

Read the original article on Southern Living