How to plant a peony root

If you are planning to plant peonies this winter it is time to give the planting some thought and planning. Here are my peony planting tips.

1. Check your climate: I only recommend growing peonies if you live in a cold climate. You need 30-60 days of temperatures below 6*C. Ideally your temperature drops below 0*C or you get lots of frost or snow. Your peonies will not flower if you grow them in a warm climate and I do not recommend this.
2. Choose your planting space: peonies prefer morning sun (6-8 hours) and afternoon shade. Make sure that the soil drains well to deter fungus (Botrytis) developing on your plants. Peonies don’t like to have wet feet.
3. Dig a large hole: Your peony root will roughly double in size every year so plant your root at least 50cm or more from other plants. Dig your hole larger than the size of your root but it does not need to be too deep. Your hole should be roughly 60cms wide and 30cm deep. If you are planting into a pot it needs to be at least 50cmx50cmx50cm. Peony plants don’t like to be moved so be mindful in choosing a spot they can establish and grow in for many years. Peony plants last a long time and can be around for over 40 – 100 years. They can be generational and handed down to your children.
4. Soil: You can add compost or manure to the soil (which must be well drained) to boost the root’s growth. I also add a small handful of bone meal to encourage new root growth. Peonies like a slightly alkaline soil with a pH of 6.5 – 7. It is not imperative to change the pH of your soil unless you have a very acidic soil which you can add lime to.
5. Planting: Place the root in the hole and make sure it is not too deep. Planting the root too deep will either kill the root or you will not get any flowers. The eyes of the root should be 2cm-5cm below the surface of the soil. Make sure the root is upright with the eyes on top. Cover with soil and add some love in the process. You can add mulch or wood chips on top of the root if you would like to.
6. Watering: Water 2-3 times a week and keep the soil moist. Don’t let the root dry out.
7. Fertilising: The most important time to fertilise is in spring. I fertilise before flowering and again after flowering with an organic fertiliser.
8. Patience and bud picking: It will take 2 – 3 years for your plant to produce many buds that develop into flowers. In the first year if you get more than 1 bud snip them off just below the base of the bud. As heartbreaking as this is to do it will encourage better root development in that first year of growth. When you do pick flowers in later years leave the last two stems of side leaves before the ground on the plant so that these leaves can feed the roots.