PLANTING PEONIES

Peonies should be planted bare root in the fall from mid-August until the ground freezes for winter; or else in the spring from container grown plants. Early planting is preferable so that the new divisions can produce roots that will help the plant develop the following year. Peonies are fool proof if a few cultural practices are followed.

1. The roots should be planted in good loose porous soil.

2. Peonies should be grown in full sunlight for best development of plant and flower.

3. Probably most important, the peony can never be planted deep. The upper-most eye should never be lower than one inch below the surface of the soil. Our suggestion is to plant the new peony with the uppermost eye at ground level after the plant has been planted and watered. For the first winter mound two inches of soil over the uppermost eye. The following spring, rake off the two inches of soil leaving the peony planted perfectly.

4. Use bone meal (make sure it is steamed bone meal, or you might have skunks visiting you!). or super phosphate when planting peonies for good root development.

5. If potted peonies are being planted, plant at same level as they are in the pot.

6. Last, but not least; the peony should be sprayed or dusted with Bordeaux or Liquid Copper fungicide each spring when it first comes through the ground and once again when it is about 6 to 8 inches tall. This fungicide treatment is to prevent peony blight which is about the only disease that will affect the growth and development of a peony plant.