Peonies

Love Peonies! That’s why it’s important to plant them in the fall rather than the spring time.  They tend to flower sooner then those planted in the spring and they establish themselves better in the fall.

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Make sure you plant them in full sun in the North and sun with part shade in the South.  They need good drainage.  Throw some bone-meal into the soil mixture before planting.  If the soil is too sandy or heavy add some compost. Plant them so the tops of the bulbs are one to two inches below the surface of the soil.

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If you are planting more than one in the same area make sure to leave three to four feet between each plant.  When you first plant Peonies you’ll need to top them off with plenty of mulch to help keep the plant at more constant temperature. (Remove the mulch in the spring.) Make sure you water until the ground freezes.

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If you have clumps of Peonies that you’d like to separate then fall is the time to do that.
Did you know that some Peonies have been know to live for 100 years!  Crazy!  Once they are established they don’t need much fuss. Make sure you deadhead the spent blossoms and remember to cut the foliage down to the ground in the fall.

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Peonies come in red, pink, yellow, purple and white and can make any garden look outrageously gorgeous. Plant some this weekend. You'll be glad you did.