When seeding Peony Flowers as soon as they are acquired, being cautious to set the division so that the the surface of the buds will be from 1-1/2 to two inches underneath the final soil grade after the plants are watered and have finished settling. If grown too deep you will likely obtain pretty foliage with some or no blooms, and if too shallow, the buds will be exposed and are prone to have broken off by Old Shep when he serves notice on a stray cat or rabbit.
You should assume blooms from 3 to 5 eye divisions the very first time. Only seven of the 60 types I planted in my garden not too long ago failed to grow the first yr. The flowers made a splendid display of flowers the third time after seeding.
Digging and separating large, old peony clumps is no easy task, since many home gardeners have learned. If the freshly-dug clump is left confronted with the air for a while, the roots will become fewer brittle and so are easier handled without having to break. The soil which is tightly kept through the roots is better eliminated with a stream of water from the hose.
Don't merely cut the clump in half and plant the 2 peonies without getting rid of some of the old large roots. Such divisions rely upon the old roots for nourishment and rarely bloom. The clump should be cut into smaller sections, generally with from 3 to 5 eyes, some of the older roots eliminated and the others shortened to about six inches. This method energizes the production of new roots which increases the plant's vigor and productiveness. A stout butcher knife and a hammer are good division tools.
Established plants may be fertilized in early spring having a couple of well-balanced plant food used in a ring about every plant and stirred into the soil.
To Maintain Color
Many Peony Flowers fade in sunlight and if left to open and stand in the sun they lose a lot of their delicate beauty. If you need to make use of Peony Flowers for display in a flower display or as a bouquet in the house, cut the flowers and allow them to open in the dark or at least in partial shade. Don't cut stems so long that most of the leaves are taken with the stalk. This could tend to weaken the plant.
Peony Flowers which are properly planted and taken care of are rarely irritated by diseases. The foliage is hardly ever infected by bugs. Plants needs to be very carefully observed and if any disease occurs the affected parts needs to be removed and ruined.
Root knot, leaf spot and botrytis blight are the 3 most common ailments. Root knot could be prevented by growing clean, healthy divisions in disease-free soil. New flowers shouldn't be set in an old bed where root knot has happened. If the plants are correctly spread, very little harm is done by leaf spot.
Botrytis blight is likely to be the most serious peony illness. It impacts stems, buds and leaves just like in caring for orchid plants. Young stalks in early spring suddenly wilt and fall over, and young buds turn black and dry up. Afterwards, larger buds which become afflicted turn brown and neglect to open up. For control, eliminate and destroy all infected parts every time they show up. Cut-off all tops close to the crowns in the fall and burn. If severe pests has took place before, take away the upper two inches of soil around the plants and exchange with fresh disease-free soil
Posted by andycrickett
at 7:05 AM EST
