Tree peony: planting and care in open ground in spring, photo, feeding, replanting

Tree peonies amaze with their beauty and aroma. The southern part of the country suits them best, but residents of the middle zone, and even the Urals and Siberia, can also enjoy their beauty and fragrance. Planting and caring for tree peony in different regions have only slight differences. Even novice gardeners can easily cope with them.

Tree peony is grown even in Siberia, the Urals and the Leningrad region

How to plant tree peony

The endurance and decorativeness of the bush largely depends on the quality of the planting material. It is better to order a seedling from a trusted nursery in your region. Quality control consists of a visual inspection.Depending on the variety of tree peony, a seedling can have from 1 to 8 shoots. Each of them should have 2-3 well-developed renewal buds. The supply of nutrients necessary for rooting contains a seedling whose adventitious roots are thicker than 1 cm and longer than 5 cm.

In order for the tree peony to actively develop in the future, not get sick and bloom magnificently, it is necessary to carry out all the stages correctly:

Determine the optimal time for planting.
Find a suitable location taking into account the sun, wind and soil.
Carry out the landing strictly according to the developed scheme.

The bush grows shoots for the first two years and only begins to bloom in the third. With proper planting and care, the peony will increase the number of shoots with buds every year. It can take a plant from 5 to 10 years to achieve maximum decorativeness.

When to plant tree peony

Seedlings that fall into the ground at the end of the season take root most quickly. To more accurately determine the suitable period, they take into account the climatic characteristics of the region - approximately 1 month should remain until the first frost. So, in the Moscow region and the entire central zone, peonies are planted on any day of September. In the Urals, Siberia and Leningrad region - in the last ten days of August or the first half of September.

It is not recommended to plant tree peony in spring. During this period, all the plant’s forces are aimed at increasing green mass, so the development of roots is inhibited. The bush will take a long time to take root and may become sick. If planting material was purchased in the spring, then it is better not to postpone the event until the fall, but to do it in April or May.

Where to plant tree peony

The tree peony is an unpretentious crop, but it can reach its peak decorative value only when grown in a suitable place. It is determined by three factors:

Sun. Lush flowering is possible only if there is full lighting for at least 6 hours a day.
Wind. Peonies do not tolerate gusty winds and drafts.
Priming. The roots develop well in loamy and nutritious soil with an alkaline reaction. When water stagnates, they rot.
Neighborhood. Tree peonies should not be planted close to trees and shrubs (minimum 1.5 m).
Groundwater. If their level is less than 70 cm, the only way out is to create a high bed.

Attention! The tree peony successfully grows for decades in one place.

Peony bushes love sunny and windless places

How to plant a tree peony correctly

The soil is prepared a month before planting. To do this, dig a hole 70x70 cm. The bottom layer is drainage (15-20 cm). To create it you need to have crushed brick or gravel. The next layer is a light and nutritious soil mixture. Turf soil is used as a basis, and organic matter is used as additional components. An additive of sand and ash will be useful.

Planting is carried out according to the following scheme:

Carefully straighten the roots of the seedling in the hole, avoiding any creases.
Fill in half of the resulting soil mixture.
Water with settled water.
Add the rest of the substrate so that the renewal buds are buried 3-5 cm, and form a near-trunk circle.
Water with Kornevin solution.

Warning! The soil should not be pressed after planting, otherwise the roots may be damaged.

How to transplant a tree peony to another place

The culture is characterized by increased sensitivity to transplants.In terms of survival, it is very capricious, so constantly moving it from one place to another will not work. It is important for owners of tree peony to understand in detail the main issues related to this event:

How often can it be replanted?
When is the best time to do this?
How to prepare bushes.
What is the transplant algorithm?

Is it possible to replant a tree peony?

Sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to dig up a tree peony bush:

The former location is allocated for other needs.
There was a suspicion of root disease.
It is necessary to propagate the bush.

In other cases, it is better not to disturb the plant. With proper watering, pruning and feeding, the plant can remain decorative for decades without replanting. Removing a peony from the ground leads to damage to the roots, which is why it does not take root well and may become sick.

When to replant a tree peony

The ideal period for transplanting and parallel propagation of tree peony is from mid-August (new buds are formed) to the end of September, when the roots acquire a sufficient supply of nutrients. There should be 3-4 weeks left before frost.

It is not recommended to replant in the spring. Roots damaged during digging and dividing will take root very slowly, and the plant itself may weaken. During this period, it needs a lot of strength to form new shoots.

How to dig and prepare bushes

Dig out the root system of the tree peony very carefully, using a pitchfork, to injure it as little as possible. You need to try to preserve a solid earthen lump. It is better not to shake it off, but to remove it with water pressure.

Next, the root is examined, diseased areas are removed and too long sections are shortened.The sections are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or other disinfectant. If the bush is divided during replanting, you need to stretch the root, using a knife only as a last resort. A sign of a high-quality division is the presence of several replacement buds. Before planting, it is immersed for a couple of hours in a clay mash or stimulating composition.

Important! Peony division is carried out at the age of 5-6 years.

A high-quality peony cut has at least two buds per branch

Tree peony transplant algorithm

Transplantation is carried out according to the same scheme as planting purchased material:

A hole of 70x70 cm is dug in a month.
If necessary, a drainage layer is laid at the bottom.
A substrate of turf soil and organic fertilizers is poured into the hole.
The roots of the “delenka” are carefully straightened.
Fill with half the soil mixture and water.
The remaining substrate is poured, covering the root collar, and watered with a stimulating solution.
A tree trunk circle is formed.

How to care for a tree peony

Even with the best care, peony develops slowly. Only from the third year does it begin to bloom. If several buds appear in the 1st or 2nd year, they must be picked before blooming so that the crop does not lose its strength. Sometimes you have to wait more than 5 years for maximum active flowering.

The main things a tree peony needs:

watering;
loosening;
weed removal;
feeding;
pruning;
winter shelter.

Watering schedule

The tree peony does not need to be watered too often, but it is advisable to use 2 buckets of settled water for each bush. During the dry period, moistening should be done every week, otherwise once every two weeks is sufficient.

Immediately after planting, watering is done once every three days for quick rooting.In rainy spring or autumn, the peony does not need to be watered. Before frosts, stop moistening the soil so that the roots do not freeze.

Advice! Water must be poured under the bush so as not to wet the leaves.

How to feed tree peonies

The first two years after planting, the crop does not need to be fed. The nutrients provided at the beginning will be enough for him. Then the peony is fed 3 times a year, taking into account the needs:

In early spring - nitrogen and potassium.
In April-June, when the buds are set, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
In the second week of flowering - potassium and phosphorus.

In the fall, before the dormant period, 300 g of wood ash and 200 g of bone meal are added to each bush. After this, carefully seal the soil.

Warning! In the second half of summer, nitrogen-containing fertilizers cannot be used - they reduce winter hardiness.

Pruning rules

Tree peony pruning is carried out in two stages:

After flowering (summer). Each shoot is cut to the upper axillary bud.
After the kidneys awaken (in spring). Healthy shoots are cut to the first bud, weakened shoots to 10 cm, dried and diseased shoots are removed completely.

The first pruning is done after flowering.

Preparing for winter

Only in the southern regions can the tree peony bush not be covered for the winter. In other cases, it is necessary to reliably protect it from freezing. It is most threatened by sudden temperature changes. The root collar should be underground. Then, if severe frosts lead to freezing of the bush, the dormant buds will come to life and the plant will rejuvenate.

Before the first frost, the branches are tied with twine, and the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus. Agrofibre, spruce branches, dry leaves or bark are used as shelter.In regions where winters often involve blizzards, care must be taken to ensure that the shelter is not blown away by the wind. The peony is opened in the spring after the snow melts.

Features of growing tree peonies in the regions

The southern regions of Russia are best suited for growing tree peonies. However, owners of personal plots in the middle zone, in the Urals, Siberia and the Leningrad region can also enjoy their beauty. They will have to put in more effort to keep the crop healthy.

In the Moscow region and central zone

The middle zone is characterized by snowy winters with moderate frosts and warm summers with heavy rainfall. These conditions are quite suitable for growing most varieties of tree peony. Planting takes place throughout September.

Due to the climate, there is no need to build a massive shelter for the winter. But you definitely need to make a high earthen embankment or mulch with a thick layer. You won't have to water the bush often, especially in July and August, when the most rainfall occurs.

In the Leningrad region

The Leningrad region is part of the northwestern region of Russia, where the weather is the most unpredictable. Unfavorable phenomena for vegetation such as squalls, tornadoes, a sharp drop in temperature in winter or extreme heat in summer are often observed. In view of this, it is necessary to take care of a winter shelter for peonies that will withstand powerful gusts of wind.

In areas of excessive moisture, it is important to take care of a good drainage layer so that moisture does not stagnate at the roots of the plant. Before the rainiest months - July and August - it is worth treating the peony with a remedy for gray rot. In the case of high groundwater, tree peonies are planted on an elevated bed.It is necessary to choose the quietest place on the site. It is better to plant during the first half of September.

In the Urals

Winters in the Urals are snowy, with sudden temperature changes, blizzards and snowstorms. The tree peony must be carefully covered during this period. In July and June there is a lot of thunderstorm rain in the Urals, so you need to treat the bushes with copper-containing preparations against gray rot. In the coldest regions, raised beds are built.

For the Urals, you need to select the most frost-resistant varieties of tree peony. Planting should be planned for the end of August or the first part of September. It is better not to do it in the spring, since the risk of return frosts may remain until July. Considering the characteristics of the soil, it is important to pay attention to the application of organic and mineral fertilizers.

In the northern regions, tree peonies need careful shelter for the winter.

In Siberia

Among Siberian plants, tree peonies are among the first to bloom, which makes them popular heroes of garden plots. Particular attention should be paid to shelter for the winter, because the temperature sometimes drops below -40 °C. You need to tie the trunk, cover it with spruce branches, lay down several layers of covering material and tie it again. You can use roofing felt or film, dry leaves.

It is better not to delay planting tree peonies in Siberia. Snow cover may form already in October, and full-fledged winter may arrive in early November. By this time, the seedling should be fully established. Siberia has less rainfall than other regions, so you need to prepare to water the bush at least once a week.

Pests and diseases

Tree peonies are not painful.Old and weakened bushes by replanting or weather conditions can be affected by gray rot, brown spot or powdery mildew. Having noticed signs of rotting, it is necessary to spray the bush with copper sulfate, potassium permanganate or other fungicide. Rotting stems should be burned. Areas affected by brown spot are removed, and the bush is treated with Bordeaux mixture. The plant is saved from powdery mildew with colloidal sulfur.

The main pests of tree peonies: aphids, ants, thrips, bronze beetles, root-knot nematodes, and mites. Modern fungicides successfully save them from them.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for a tree peony is a feasible task for a gardener with any experience. In order for the plant to delight you with its beauty and aroma for many years, you need to adhere to the developed rules and advice from experts.