They can be found in the trade as both perennials and trees - the peonies. Once you have planted them correctly and give them a little care every now and then, you can enjoy them for decades and without regular rejuvenation of the plant. Below you can read how to plant peonies correctly!
How do I plant peonies correctly?
To plant peonies properly, look for a bright, warm location, preferably in partial shade. Ideally, the substrate should be deep, medium-heavy, well-drained and nutrient-rich. Plant perennial peonies 1 m apart and place buds 3 to 5 cm below the ground.
When to plant peonies?
Peonies are usually planted when they are commercially available. You can plant container goods all year round, provided there is no frost and the ground is frozen. Bare-rooted specimens should preferably be planted outdoors in autumn.
It is ideal - for all peonies - to plant them in the ground between September and the end of October. Then they can root well until next spring. But be careful: in the first winter you should cover the peonies sufficiently.
Which location is suitable for the plants?
Do you want your peony to bloom abundantly? Then you should choose a bright and warm location for them. Peonies like to grow in sunny places, including under deciduous trees that provide them with some shade. But a fully shaded location should not be an option for them.
Place your peony in the sun or partial shade! When choosing a location, make sure that the location is protected from the wind, for example on the wall of a house or on a wall. It would be optimal if the location is sunny but shaded at midday. This protects the peonies from the heat in summer.
Which location is also completely unsuitable?
It is also important to note when choosing the location that the peony should not be planted where a peony has already stood. If you do this, you risk that the new peony will develop stunted growth and hardly or not bloom at all. The reason: so-called soil fatigue.
Can peonies also be grown on the balcony?
Peonies form long roots that extend deep into the soil. For this reason, they are rather unsuitable for pot and container cultivation. If you want to plant them in the pot, you should choose a very deep pot. It should be around 50 cm deep. It is better to plant the peony outdoors.
What should the substrate be like?
In addition to the location, the substrate also plays a crucial role. What is most important is that it is profound. The following aspects are also advantageous:
- medium difficulty
- well-drained (susceptible to moisture)
- moderately humid
- humos (but not too humus, otherwise there is a risk of illness)
- nutrient-rich
- ideal: sandy loam soils
How do you sow peonies correctly?
The following instructions for sowing:
- can take 5 years until the first flowering occurs
- only use fresh seeds (they lose germination quickly)
- Seeds are cold germinators
- sow in autumn
- z. B. in seed trays
- cover approximately 1 cm thick with substrate
- place outside in partial shade
- keep moist
- Germination time: up to 2 years
- prick out in spring
What planting distance should you pay attention to?
The planting distance depends on the respective type and variety of peony. Perennial peonies should be planted 1 m apart from each other. For rather short varieties, a planting distance of 80 cm is sufficient. Shrub peonies need significantly more space. A minimum distance of 120 cm is recommended here. So that the plants do not appear crowded together, a distance of 200 cm is more appropriate.
When do peonies bloom?
Depending on the type and variety, peonies bloom at different times. There are the 'early bloomers' among them, which bloom as early as April. These include, for example, the noble peony 'Claire de Lune'. Most specimens bloom from May to June.
How do you plant the plants step by step?
Planting perennial peonies is very easy:
- Dig a planting hole – 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide
- if applicable Add compost and some sand as drainage
- Insert plant
- Don't plant buds too deep (otherwise no flowers) - 3 to 5 cm below the ground
- fill with soil
- press
- water
The shrub peonies that tolerate cutting are planted in a very similar way. There are two main differences! They should be placed in the ground at a slight angle. The result is that the plant develops more main shoots and becomes bushier in growth. It is also important to plant shrub peonies with the grafting point 10 to 15 cm below the surface of the soil.
Tip
Choose the location carefully and wisely! Peonies tolerate subsequent transplanting extremely poorly.
