Content
Peony Mister Ed has unique decorative properties and will help decorate any area or flower bed. Such a plant is capable of changing color depending on weather and climatic conditions or blooming in several shades at the same time. At the same time, the variety obtained through selection does not require special care.
Description of peony Mister Ed
The flower was bred by breeders by crossing peonies Lactiflora and Monsieur Jules Elie. The height of the plant reaches 1 m. The bush has several stems; at the end of spring they are covered with buds. Each has 1 main and 2-3 secondary flowers.
The plant has a powerful root system. Individual underground shoots can grow to a depth of 60 cm.
The stems are covered with a large number of pointed feather-like leaves. Their color changes depending on the time of year. In spring and early summer the foliage is light. After flowering, in hot weather they turn dark green.
The plant adapts well to the climatic characteristics of the growing region. Mister Ed peonies can withstand low temperatures. This flower is considered sun-loving. Therefore, it is best to plant it in well-lit areas.
It is recommended to plant peonies in the cool months of autumn.
The use of supports when growing is optional. An exception may be cases when a large number of flowers appear on one bush, which bend the stems under their own weight. In this case, you can use supports or garter.
Features of flowering
Peonies of the "Mr. Ed" variety are classified as terry type. Hemispherical flowers consist of a large number of petals of different sizes.
The main feature of the variety is that one bush may have buds of different colors. Color may change annually. It depends mainly on weather conditions. It is not uncommon for a Mister Ed peony to have half the flower a different color. White and pink petals are usually combined. Red and yellow are less common.
It is advisable to plant the peony in a sunny place
Flowering period is the first half of summer. The period depends on the temperature and humidity of the air, the nutritional value of the soil and other features. 1, or less often 2-3 flowers with a diameter of 14-15 cm appear on the stems. Flowering lasts on average 12-14 days, but in some cases it can last up to 18-20 days.
The quality of flowering is also affected by the planting method. If the technology is broken, “Mr. Ed” peonies may not bloom, even despite the high nutritional value of the soil and other contributing factors.
Application in design
Due to their characteristics, Mister Ed herbaceous peonies are actively used as an ornamental plant.They look beautiful both when planted alone and in combination with other flowers.
When creating compositions in flower beds, peonies are recommended to be given a central place. The variety, due to its variety of colors, is combined with a large number of other plants that are placed nearby.
Peony bushes can be grown in gardens and parks
Suitable for the neighborhood:
- carnations;
- asters;
- barberry;
- crocuses;
- lilies;
- astilbe;
- petunias;
- dahlias;
- chrysanthemums;
- daffodils.
When planting, you should take into account the short flowering period of peonies. Therefore, it is desirable that after the end of this period other plants bloom. Then the area will remain bright longer. Peonies after flowering will serve for landscaping and will become a kind of background for other plants.
When designing a plot using the “Mr. Ed” variety, you should remember that they are demanding on the composition of the soil, and also take a long time to recover after replanting. Therefore, they should be placed in spacious flower beds.
Reproduction methods
The Mister Ed variety is divided to produce new specimens. For this purpose, mature plants adapted to open ground are used. The age of the bush is at least 3 years. Otherwise, the root system does not have time to accumulate enough nutrients for restoration.
Peonies are planted in the fall, the roots should become stronger before the first frost.
Division is carried out in late summer or early autumn. During this period, root buds are formed.
Procedure steps:
- The bush is dug up and removed from the soil.
- The roots are washed to remove soil.
- The plant is left to dry for 3-4 hours in the shade.
- Cut the stems at a distance of 12-15 cm from the roots.
- “Divisions” with three or more buds are selected.
- The cut area on the bush is smeared with river sand.
- The plant is returned to its original, pre-fertilized place.
- “Delenki” are planted in the ground.
Mister Ed peonies can be propagated using seeds. However, such a process is very labor-intensive and time-consuming. Some gardeners use the cutting method. But dividing the bush is considered the most effective.
Landing rules
This variety of peonies is demanding on the composition of the soil. This is taken into account when choosing a landing site.
The soil should be moderately moist. Before peonies, no other plants should grow on it for at least 2 years. Only in this case will the soil be rich in nutrients.
The area should be illuminated by the sun. It is best if a shadow falls on it at midday, which will protect the peony from excess ultraviolet radiation.
For planting, “cuts” are used, obtained with one’s own hands or purchased in special stores. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the absence of damage or signs of rotting. There must be at least 3 buds on the division.
Immediately after planting in open ground, the plant is watered abundantly.
Landing algorithm:
- Dig a hole 60 cm deep and wide.
- The bottom is filled with expanded clay or coarse sand in combination with peat as a drainage layer.
- Top with purified garden soil mixed with compost or humus.
- The “delenka” is placed in the ground.
- Sprinkle so that the buds are at a depth of 3 to 5 cm.
The Mister Ed variety should be planted in early autumn. Then the bush will have time to take root and survive the winter well. Spring planting is also allowed.But in this case, you need to cut off the developing buds so that the plant does not waste the nutrients necessary for rooting.
Aftercare
The varietal qualities of "Mr. Ed" peonies appear only 2-3 years after planting. During this period, special care of the plant is not required.
Weeds should be removed around the bushes. The flower also needs regular watering. It is carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on the air temperature.
The most important activity is loosening the soil. The Mister Ed variety does not tolerate dense soil. Therefore, loosening is carried out every month. With heavy rainfall and regular watering, the frequency of the procedure is increased to 2-4 times.
Fertilizers (ash, compost, potassium, superphosphate) are applied once a year
The recommended loosening depth is 10-12 cm. The procedure should be carried out with care so as not to damage the surface roots.
When planting in pre-fertilized soil, fertilizing is not required for the first 2 years. In the future, the “Mr. Ed” variety is recommended to be periodically treated with mineral solutions and complex granular preparations. Feeding is carried out in mid-spring, in the summer before flowering, and also in early autumn. Organic fertilizers are applied once before wintering.
To maintain soil moisture in the summer, it should be mulched. Usually the procedure is performed simultaneously with loosening. Tree bark, sawdust, peat and straw are used as mulch.
General recommendations for caring for peonies:
Preparing for winter
"Mr. Ed" is a frost-resistant variety. Adult specimens can survive winter without shelter, provided that the temperature does not drop below -20 degrees. It is better to protect young bushes from frost and wind.
Peony is frost-resistant, so it does not require obligatory shelter for the winter.
If you do not plan to collect seeds from peonies in the fall, the flower stalks must be removed. The frequency of watering is gradually reduced. In mid-autumn, when the temperature drops, you need to remove the leaves and stems, leaving superficial shoots 10-12 cm long. At the same time, replenishment with phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and mulching of the soil are carried out.
The bush can be covered with hay, dry leaves and sawdust. Spruce branches and pine branches are ideal. In strong winds, the bush can be covered with a breathable film; it will protect the peony from freezing.
Pests and diseases
The plant has low sensitivity to infections. However, the Mister Ed variety can infect fungus if not properly cared for. The most common diseases are gray mold. For treatment, the affected area is cut off, and healthy shoots are treated with a fungicide for prevention.
With increased soil moisture, root rot can develop. In this case, the soil needs to be loosened and treated with a fungicide. If possible, the diseased root is dug up and removed. This disease can lead to the death of the flower.
In case of root rot, remove the affected area of the peony
The most common pests are the bronze beetle and root nematodes. It is recommended to collect insects by hand. You can also treat the flower with an insecticide. The best remedies for nematodes are Nematofagin and Phosfamide.
Conclusion
Peony Mister Ed is a unique decorative variety. Its flowers can have different colors, which makes the plant an excellent decoration for the site. Caring for such a peony requires a minimum set of mandatory measures. Otherwise, this is an unpretentious and frost-resistant variety.
