Content
Many summer residents do not consider peonies to be elite plants. But they are grown with pleasure because of the lush flowers with attractive colors.
Flower growers know that the greatest attention should be paid to peonies in the fall in order to get luxurious blooms the following year. An event that should not be neglected is pruning peonies in the fall.
It allows the flower to:
- relax after intense flowering;
- recover before the onset of winter cold;
- accumulate enough moisture for future shoots.
The importance of autumn pruning is great, so it must be done correctly. The main parameters that flower growers pay attention to are when and how to prune peonies in the fall.
Inexperienced gardeners doubt the need to prune flowers in the fall. They cut off the heads with faded flowers immediately after the bush has finished flowering.
In this case, next year you get a lush green bush with luxurious foliage, but not flowers. This is due to the fact that the plant does not have enough time to form buds for the next flowering. The second reason is the lack of nutrients for tuber growth.
Timing for autumn pruning of peonies
First of all, gardeners need to wait until the flowers on the peonies fade. They may simply wither or fall off. Now the bush directs all its energy to the formation of flower buds for next year and the growth of the bulb.You should not postpone pruning until spring; it is optimal to prune bushes in autumn. But when should it be done in the fall to help the plant as much as possible?
The beginning of autumn is not the best period. At this time, pruning will weaken the bush, which will negatively affect the flowering of the peony next year. Photosynthesis processes will be disrupted, and the roots will not receive the necessary nutrients. And a weakened plant can respond to winter cold by reducing its flower mass. Although peonies are considered cold-hardy and grow quietly in one place for more than 10 years.
The most suitable period is considered to be late autumn with the first frosts. This time usually falls at the end of October or beginning of November. The pruning period varies depending on the climatic characteristics of the region in which the flower is grown. Now the flower is ready for a period of rest, in other words, the development process for the season is over.
Some gardeners intuitively determine when to prune ahead of schedule. The exceptions are:
- early drying out of peonies;
- presence of diseases.
In other cases, you should not hesitate, but prune the flower in the fall at the recommended time.
Flower pruning technology in autumn
To confidently begin pruning, we will consider all the nuances of autumn care for peonies.
When the time for the procedure has already been determined, it is necessary to pay attention to the rules that should be strictly adhered to.
You need to remove the above-ground part of the plant by carefully cutting off the leaves and stems with a sharp tool.
It is even slightly buried in the ground to remove the necessary parts. The exception is the stems above the growth buds; they can be left. The length of such stems should not exceed 4-5 cm. Although you can determine a different length for them that is convenient for you.
After the pruning procedure, you need to collect plant debris, take it outside the garden and burn it.
Peat and humus are excellent materials for covering flowers in autumn. They will not only protect peonies from freezing, but will also additionally warm the plants.
Experienced gardeners sprinkle the soil and cutting areas with wood ash. It simultaneously disinfects and nourishes future luxurious flowers at the moment when autumn pruning is already completed.
Caring for bushes after pruning
Be sure to check the soil moisture level at the cutting sites. If it is dry, you need to water and feed the bushes. For autumn nutrition of peonies, bone meal, wood ash, and ready-made mineral compositions are used.
Despite the fact that the pruning procedure itself is not considered difficult, some gardeners still manage to make mistakes:
- Begin pruning peonies immediately after flowering. This happens at the end of summer. The plant manages to produce new shoots, spending a lot of energy on their growth. At the first frost they die, and the bush now does not have enough nutrition to develop the bulb. Therefore, flowering next summer will either be very sparse, or you will not get beautiful inflorescences at all.
- The inflorescences that are still in bloom are cut off. This happens when peony bushes are part of design projects on the territory of a summer cottage. Peonies look very luxurious in a bouquet, but the number of inflorescences next year will be significantly reduced.
- They are late with the autumn pruning of peonies. The plant does not have time to renew its root system, which may simply rot.
As soon as the autumn pruning of the plants is completed, watering and fertilizing have been carried out, it is necessary to cover the peonies for wintering. This is also an important procedure for preserving flowers for the next season.
It is of particular importance for those varieties that are grown in regions with frosty, snowless winters. How to properly cover peonies for the winter?
First, assess the depth of the growth points. If the value does not exceed 4-6 cm, then it is necessary to sprinkle the stems with soil. A layer of covering material is placed on top:
- fallen leaves;
- spruce branches;
- compost;
- peat.
The thickness of the shelter should not be less than 10-15 cm. In this case, after pruning, your peonies will receive reliable protection from frost and piercing wind.
Even novice gardeners can carry out autumn pruning. And experienced gardeners themselves assess the condition of the plants and choose the timing for pruning, taking into account all the conditions.
