Did you know that one of the best ways you can help your peony bushes bloom bigger than ever next spring is to properly prepare them for winter in late fall?
All too often, peony bushes take a back seat once they complete their blooming in spring or early summer. Without their showy large and colorful blooms, gardeners often concentrate their efforts elsewhere on summer and fall blooming plants for the remainder of the growing season.
But once fall arrives, it’s important to give your peonies a little care. Not only to clean up your flowerbeds and prepare them safely for the long winter ahead, but to also set them up for bigger and better blooming next year!
There are actually three key tasks to perform when it comes to fall peony care. As you will see below, the good news is that all three are quite simple and easy to perform. And will they ever make a big difference in next year’s health and blooming potential!
How To Prepare Peony Bushes For Winter – 3 Must Do Fall Chores!
#1 Cut Your Peonies Back
Even if you do nothing else with your peonies this fall, take the time to cut your bushes back! Allowing the foliage to remain all through the winter is simply asking for trouble.
Unlike many other perennials whose foliage can help protect the plant through winter, with peonies it can actually harm them. This is because peonies are an easy target for mildew and blight. And allowing the foliage to remain as the weather becomes more damp and cool increases the likelihood of each dramatically.
Making matters worse, when the foliage is allowed to decay through the fall and winter, insects use it for cover and winter protection – and for laying eggs for even more pests to return next spring and summer!
Knowing When To Cut Back – How To Prepare Peony Bushes For Winter
As important as cutting back your peony bushes in the fall is – knowing when to cut them back is even more important! Just as allowing the foliage to stick around can cause issues, cutting that foliage off too early will too.
A peony bush actually absorbs energy from its foliage as it begins to die off. And if you remove it while there are still some green leaves on the bush, you stop that flow of energy.
Always wait until a peony bush has completely turned to its fall colors before cutting it back. It’s a simple rule – if you can still see green, let it be. Once the bush completely turns, it can no longer absorb energy from the leaves and it is then safe to cut back.
When cutting back, use a sharp pair of loppers or hedge shears and cut the entire bush back to within two to three inches of the ground. Affiliate Link: TABOR TOOLS GL16A Bypass Lopper
#2 Dividing Overgrown Peonies – How To Prepare Peony Bushes For Winter
The second fall chore for peonies only needs to occur if your peonies are getting too big for their space. As it turns out, fall is also the ideal time to dig up and divide peony bushes. While it’s not strictly necessary to divide peonies, doing so every four to five years can be highly beneficial for the plants
For one, smaller bushes are easier to manage. They not only require less maintenance but also support their large flowers better, reducing the risk of them drooping. Additionally, smaller plants are less prone to mildew and mold.
Dividing peonies in the fall is a simple process. Their roots are relatively shallow, typically about 6 to 8 inches deep. Start by digging around the perimeter of the plant to that depth. Then, slide your shovel under the roots and carefully lift the plant out of the soil.
Once out, lay it on its side and gently remove some of the soil to reveal the tuber. You can often separate the tubers by hand, but if they’re stubborn, a garden knife or small saw can help cut through any thicker roots.
When dividing, aim to keep the new plant sizes similar. This will help keep all of your peony bushes the same size in flowerbeds as they grow and mature – making for a far better appearance. It’s best to transplant new divisions the day you split your peonies. For more on dividing, check out our article: How To Divide Peonies In The Fall – And Why It’s The Best Time To Do It!
#3 Late Season Watering – How To Prepare Peony Bushes For Winter
One final task that can really help your peony blooms next year is to make sure your bushes are getting plenty of water throughout the fall months.
Even though they are not in bloom, peonies still need water to keep their roots healthy. Even more, they also use the moisture to help absorb and store energy in those roots for next year’s blooms.
With that in mind, make sure your peonies are getting around an inch of rainfall each week. If you are experiencing a drought or a long, dry spell – hand watering is the answer. Plain and simple, if peonies fail to get water in the fall, next spring’s blooms will suffer!
Why Not To Fertilize Perennial Plants In The Fall
One thing to avoid in the fall for your peonies is fertilizer. Unfortunately, fertilizing perennials in the fall will cause far more harm than good. That is because it can trick the bush to come out of dormancy late in the season.
When this occurs, it can spur unwanted late growth that is highly susceptible to winter damage. Even worse, it makes the plant use its stored energy. And that leaves it weak for next year’s blooms.
Here is to preparing your peonies properly for winter this fall. And for big blooms next spring!
Simple Garden Life
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