Peonies are perennials with flowers that are easy to grow and hardy and have a long life. Unlike other evergreen plants, they don't need to be separated and transplanted to keep blooming. However, if they are crowding your garden, or if you would like to have more in another area, it is best to divide and transplant them in the fall.
Steps
Step 1. Cut the peony stems back to ground level in September
Step 2. Prepare your new implantation area
It is best to prepare the soil for new plants before pulling them out of the earth. Plant freshly divided plants as quickly as possible so the roots don't have time to dry out.
- Choose an area that receives full sunlight. Although peonies can survive partially in the shade, they thrive in areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun.
- Plow the soil and enrich it with peat moss or compost as needed. Peonies prefer rich, well-draining soils.
Step 3. Dig around and under the group of plants to remove as much of their extended root system as possible
Step 4. Gently shake the plant to remove loose soil
This will allow you to better observe the roots. You need to be able to see the buds (shoots) on top of the root structure. Rinse the roots with the garden pump.
Step 5. Cut the group of plants into small pieces using a sharp knife
Make sure each new piece has at least three buds and an adequate root system.
Step 6. Dig a hole for the new plant that is slightly larger than the root system of the new plant
Step 7. Place the peony in the hole deep enough to have the buds 2.5-5cm below ground level
If the sprouts are more than 5cm below the ground, remove the plant and add soil to the hole. Peonies planted deeper may not bloom.
Step 8. Finish filling the hole with soil
Press the ground to settle it.
Step 9. Water the peonies well
Keep them well watered for several weeks as they develop their root system.
Step 10. Mulch the area around and above the plants with 7-12 cm of straw or other organic mulch
The mulch layer helps protect the soil from freezing and thawing during the winter months, which could kill the plant.
Step 11. Remove mulch in early spring before new growth begins
Advice
- Sometimes peonies will grow beautifully in a particular area for many years and then suddenly stop blooming. When this happens, take out the plants and transplant them to another area to give them new vigor. You can divide the plant or transplant it whole.
- Newly transplanted peonies may not bloom for the first 1-2 years. Some gardeners argue that if they bloom the first year after transplanting, you should remove and discard the flower buds to allow the plant to produce more in the following years.
