Content
- 1 Is it possible to plant peonies in spring?
- 2 Difficulties in planting peonies in open ground in spring
- 3 Rules for choosing planting material
- 4 How to plant peonies in spring
- 5 Timing and rules for planting peonies in the ground in summer
- 6 Caring for peonies after planting
- 7 Conclusion
Planting peonies in spring raises different opinions. Some novice gardeners find it not entirely acceptable for the crop. They believe that during the period of active growth of the aboveground part, the roots can quickly become depleted. As a result, the plant’s immunity will be weakened, which will lead to poor development of the peony and a long absence of flowering. Experienced gardeners say the opposite. Timely and properly carried out spring planting of peonies is very beneficial.
Only a properly planted plant will delight you with lush flowering in due time.
Is it possible to plant peonies in spring?
A similar question worries all peony lovers. Considering the climatic conditions in the Russian Federation, experienced gardeners are inclined to plant or replant bushes in the fall. However, in the spring, the adventitious roots of peonies grow as intensively as in the fall. Therefore, spring planting is also advisable. Especially if the plant has already been purchased or needs to be replanted urgently. It is important to comply with the basic requirements of the crop, agrotechnical recommendations and take into account weather conditions. If hot weather immediately begins in the spring, then the bushes will need intensive care.
When is it better to plant peonies: spring or autumn
Knowledge of the biological characteristics of the culture will help solve this issue. During the growing season, peony has two periods during which suction roots grow. These periods are considered equivalent for planting activities. In spring, planting should be done before the onset of steady warming (April-May). This will allow the division to take root before the first shoots begin to grow. In autumn, it is recommended to plant peonies in August or September so that rooting occurs before the onset of frost. The root system, which is already stronger at this time, can more easily withstand any interventions.
After spring planting, peonies take root a little more difficult, flowering begins later, and it is not as luxurious. But this period also has its advantages:
- suction roots also grow intensively;
- compliance with all planting rules guarantees good survival of the bush;
- there is no need to wait until autumn to plant already purchased planting material.
Considering all the pros and cons, gardeners can plant peonies at a time that suits them.
Difficulties in planting peonies in open ground in spring
When planting peonies in open ground in spring, gardeners may encounter some difficulties:
- Weather. In cool weather, the ground takes a long time to thaw. If the time has come to plant the cuttings, and the soil is frozen, this creates additional difficulties.
- Any careless movement by the grower leads to damage to the stems or buds. The plant may die if the damage is significant.
- Root growth lag compared to the above-ground part. This leads to depletion of the roots and oppression of the young plant.
To avoid such difficulties, you need to accurately fulfill all the conditions and plant peonies in the spring correctly.
When will peonies planted in spring bloom?
You should not wait for flowering in the first year after planting. This also applies to peonies planted in the fall.
Typically, flowering begins 2 years after planting, some varieties bloom after 3 years. This must be clarified immediately when purchasing varietal cuttings. In the second season, you need to leave 1 bud, then cut it short after opening and check that it matches the varietal parameters. If there are differences, then the procedure with one bud will have to be repeated until the match is complete. This can happen in 4-5 years.
When planting a seedling at the age of 3-4 years, flowering will occur the next season.
The quality of flowering depends on the varietal characteristics and proper care after planting.
Rules for choosing planting material
The speed of development of the bush, its health, duration and brightness of flowering directly depend on the quality of the cuttings. If planting material is purchased in a store, then first of all you need to carefully read the information on the packaging.
Carefully reading the description will help you choose the right variety for your site.
A decent and self-respecting manufacturer will definitely inform you:
- full name of the variety;
- a list of main characteristics and description of the culture;
- the amount of planting material in the package;
- a note indicating that the cutting has passed quality control;
- instructions for the main stages of planting.
In addition to familiarizing yourself with the planting material in the form of a description, you should conduct a visual inspection. Peonies are sold in plastic bags, so it’s easy to see the division. It must have at least 2 adventitious roots with a length of 5 cm or more and 2-3 renewal buds. It is important that there is no damage, signs of rot or other diseases.
The presence of mold and rot is an important reason to refuse a purchase.
In order not to purchase a low-quality product, you should immediately put the package aside if:
- There is a smell of rot or mold coming from the packaging. Such planting material is not suitable.
- Thickenings or growths are visible on the rhizome. These signs may indicate infection of the cuttings with cancer or damage to the roots by a nematode.
- When feeling, the planting material is too dry or wet.
If the listed disadvantages are absent, but there are only 1 or 2 buds on the division, then you should not abandon it. After planting in the spring, such a peony will bloom later and grow more slowly, but in adulthood it will delight you with lush flowering.
How to save peonies before planting in spring
It is not always possible to purchase peonies exactly on time for planting. Therefore, many gardeners have to save them until the right time. There are several options to guarantee the safety of peonies:
- If the buds in the divisions have not started to grow, then just place them in a bag, sprinkle with sphagnum or vermiculite, and put them in the refrigerator.
- When the growth of the buds has begun, the peony division should be planted in a flower pot with a volume of 2-3 liters. Be sure to lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, and take a light and nutritious substrate. Place the container in a cool place (+ 4-6 °C) so as not to stimulate vegetation. In the spring, dig it into the area along with the pot, and in the fall plant it in a permanent place in open ground.
You don’t have to dig in, but immediately plant the peony in open ground in the spring. This option is riskier, but possible. Those who decide to plant a peony in the fall need to move the pot into the room and care for it before planting, like an indoor flower. This option is suitable if there is no basement or cellar.
The plant needs:
- good lighting, possibly with backlighting;
- sprinkling the soil with wood ash to prevent rot;
- placing ice cubes to keep the temperature cool;
- weekly inspection.
How to plant peonies in spring
The event must take place with strict adherence to the basic rules. These are well-chosen and prepared:
- term;
- place;
- the soil;
- planting material
And, of course, the correct landing.
When to plant peonies in open ground in spring
The timing of peony planting is very important. One condition must be met - to allow the division to take root before the first shoots appear. Therefore, the optimal time is April, when stable warming has not yet begun. The plant will have time to take root. It is convenient to use the recommendations of the lunar calendar, but taking into account adjustments for the weather conditions of a particular region.
Before the selected date, planting material must be inspected and prepared:
- Remove any signs of rot or damaged areas.
- Disinfect the peony rhizome in a solution of potassium permanganate or the drug “Maxim” (20 minutes).
- Treat the cuts with wood ash.
Then treat the future peony in a Heteroauxin solution and leave for a day. As a result, you can already plant peonies in open ground in the spring.
After correctly completing all stages, the division will quickly grow in the spring
Where to plant peonies in spring
At this stage, you need to determine the location and select or prepare the soil. The splendor and beauty of peony flowering directly depends on these parameters. Culture makes the following demands:
- A place with good sunlight throughout the day. Shade is contraindicated for peonies; the bush may completely refuse to bloom or will form only a few inflorescences. Slight shading at midday is acceptable.
- Protection from drafts and cold winds, but without air stagnation.
- The distance from buildings or fences is at least 1.5 m. Maintain the same gap between neighboring peony bushes.
- Avoid lowlands where the plant's rhizomes can rot. The permissible groundwater level is at least 1 m. Otherwise, make drainage or raise the flower bed.
Peonies prefer soil with slightly alkaline or neutral acidity. The soil is fertile, light, drained. Cultivated loam is ideal.
Rules and methods for planting peonies in spring
There are several options that gardeners can take advantage of in the spring. Depending on the weather, peonies can be planted in containers (pots) or directly in open ground. Optimal propagation methods, any of which is used for spring planting:
- Dividing the bush is the most common.
- Bush pruning (often used).
- Root cuttings with a growth bud. Convenient if you need a large number of sections.
- Layering - only with the early onset of heat.
Most often, gardeners opt for dividing the bush and planting root cuttings.
Very early planting of peonies in spring
Gardeners may encounter a situation when weather conditions do not allow planting peonies, but the condition of the planting material requires it. For example, the rhizome already has long shoots, and the division begins to grow. The landing rules are the same as in the usual times. You should not pay attention to the possibility of return frosts and snowfall. There are two options for the procedure:
- Plant in thawed soil (without heating) to a depth of 3-5 cm. If the division has sprouted, then measure the required distance from the base of the sprout (3-5 cm) and cover it with soil, and leave the rest of the sprouts on the surface. Build a shelter or mini-greenhouse to preserve the tender sprouts.
Some sprouts whose length exceeds 5 cm cannot be buried in the ground.
- Bury a section of peony in a temporary place and plant it in the fall.
Then early spring planting will not be problematic.
How to plant purchased peonies in a container in spring
Many gardeners believe that planting in a container has many advantages. You will need a pot with a volume of at least 5-10 liters and careful adherence to the sequence of actions:
- Place drainage on the bottom.
- Fill the container with a nutrient mixture (chernozem + humus + peat) in equal proportions.
- Plant the cutting so that the highest point of regeneration is buried 2-3 cm from the soil surface.
- Very carefully compact the soil and water.
- Place in the basement for rooting.
As soon as active growth of the stem begins, the plant has taken root. Bring the container into the light when the stem height reaches 5-7 cm.
The root system requires transplanting from a pot after 2-3 years
Features of planting a peony from a box in spring
You can plant peonies bought in a box in the spring. If purchased in advance, you should place the purchase in the refrigerator. This will stop the growth of shoots, and suction roots will appear on the rhizome. Before planting, remove the cuttings and clear them of peat. Soak in a disinfectant solution. This is the most important and responsible moment. In any damaged place on the roots, pathogenic microflora can settle, which will lead to the death of the plant.
Planting peony with sprouts in spring
The quality of peony flowering depends on the correct execution of the event. Step by step how to plant peonies in spring:
- Prepare a planting hole with dimensions of 60 cm x 60 cm. When planting several seedlings, leave a distance of 1.5 m between them. When digging, you should separate the top layer of soil from the bottom, for example, place it on opposite sides of the hole.
- Pour a layer of drainage - expanded clay, river sand, broken brick.
- Place the top layer of soil on top, then humus, 1 glass of ash, 80 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Add soil so that there is 25 cm to the soil surface.
- Install the division, straighten the roots, planting depth 5 cm.
- Cover with soil, compact gently, and water.
- Mulch with humus.
It is very important to maintain the recommended planting depth.
The basic rule of planting is to maintain the correct depth
Timing and rules for planting peonies in the ground in summer
Rhizomes can be planted in open ground from April to the end of September. But August is considered the optimal summer time. The method of dividing the bush is most suitable for summer. It is recommended to dig a hole in advance so that the ground subsides. The remaining planting rules do not differ from the spring event.
How to plant a peony in summer
Before planting, determine the location and prepare a hole 70 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.
Lay a layer of drainage and fertile soil.
Water the peony bush well, dig it up and divide it.
Place the roots on a mound of soil, cover with soil, compact and water.
In summer, you will have to shade the plant a little so that the scorching sun does not destroy the seedling.
Caring for peonies after planting
The first year after spring planting is a very important period for peonies.
Water regularly (every other day) for a month, then according to weather conditions and soil conditions. Avoid stagnation of water or drying out of the soil. An adult peony requires at least 20 liters of water.
You need to loosen the next day after watering, but very carefully. Weeding is also important so that the roots have enough moisture and nutrients.
In the period from early May to mid-June, carry out the first fertilizing with mineral complex fertilizer + ammonium nitrate around the root. In the first year, foliar spraying is considered more effective. As soon as the shoots begin to grow, prepare a solution of 5 liters of water and 30 g of urea. After 3 weeks, add 1 tablet with microelements to the same composition. The third time, after 2 weeks, prepare the composition with 2 tablets.
Hill up the young bush in October, cover it with a layer of spruce branches on top.
Some gardeners argue that nutrition is not needed in the first two years. If the roots have not grown to the fertile layer of the planting hole, then foliar feeding will allow the peony to grow stronger.
Conclusion
Planting peonies in the spring helps gardeners in many cases. It is only important to follow the basic recommendations, take into account weather conditions and choose a planting option.
