We plant peonies on flower beds with perennials

The history of growing peonies has more than two millennia, during which a great many varieties and varieties have been created. But no matter how much the peonies are transformed, planting and caring for them in the open field have not undergone major changes since then.

In order to admire the lush carved foliage and spectacular flowering year after year, the summer resident will have to master all the intricacies of agricultural technology and find out the preferences of these amazing ornamental plants.

All species of peonies that exist in nature are from Eurasia and the American continent, represented by herbaceous perennials and dwarf shrubs. In Russian gardens, plants have long proved their unpretentiousness and the ability to grow and bloom in one place from 10 to 20 years without transplanting.

A place for planting and caring for peonies in the open field

The place for planting peonies is chosen so that the plant is as comfortable as possible for not only one season, but also several years. Since this culture belongs to light and heat-loving, up to 3 hours a day it can endure a transparent garden shade, but is afraid of cold winds and drafts, the peony is selected a site according to its requirements and shading for the hottest, noon hours.

For several years, the root system of peonies can deepen to 70–80 cm. To simplify the care of peonies in the open field, before planting, pay attention to the danger of flooding the site and stagnation of scarlet or groundwater. Constant humidity greatly increases the risk of root rot and the death of the entire bush.

Actively growing peonies need space, tightness leads to a deterioration in flowering, the appearance of diseases and pests.

Peony planting conditions:

1. Planting pits are made at a distance of at least 1-1.5 meters from shrubs and other perennial plants.
2. A gap of at least 2-3 meters is left to the nearest tree.
3. You should not plant peonies directly under the walls of buildings and fences.
4. Between the bushes, depending on the type and variety, they leave from 70 to 180 cm of free space.

A bright, wind-protected area has been found, it's time to take care of the soil in which the peony is to grow. Soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction should be loose, aerated, nutritious. Sandy soil is flavored with humus, peat, wood ash and deoxidized with dolomite flour. Mix in garden soil as needed. Dense clay soil can be made more airy with river sand and a little peat. The sand is used to structure the nutritious, but rapidly caking black soil.

Rules for planting peonies for outdoor care

Unlike many horticultural crops, when planting which it is important to leave the growth point on or above the soil, peonies deeply deepen. The buds, from which the stems will subsequently develop, are sunk into it by 3–7 cm, depending on the density of the soil.

If this is not done, the most sensitive and important part of the plant will be unprotected in rain, snow and sun. However, even with an excessively deep planting of a peony in open ground, caring for it can be not only laborious, but also in vain. Such plants form lush foliage in spring, but bloom weakly or refuse to form buds at all.

Peony planting rules:

1. Planting pits for peonies are made up to 80 cm deep for tree-like plants and up to 60 cm for more common herbaceous varieties. The width of the pit is 60 and 50 cm, respectively.
2. The bottom, in order to avoid stagnation of water, is covered with drainage.
3. The pit is filled two thirds with the prepared substrate mixed with 100-150 grams superphosphate, one spoonful of ferrous sulfate and a liter jar of bone meal or sifted wood ash.
4. When the straightened peony roots fall into the ground, they are covered with loose soil by another 15–20 cm so that the buds are reliably hidden below the ground level.

Outdoor peony care in spring or autumn begins immediately after planting. The soil is carefully compacted and watered at the rate of 8-10 liters of water per bush. If the plants are ahead of autumn rooting and wintering, they are densely mulch 10 cm layer of peat. With the onset of spring, care for the perennial continues.

Planting peonies in the ground: spring or autumn

The most convenient planting time for the grower and favorable for the peony is the beginning of autumn. By this time, the root system of the perennial grows, and it itself recovers after flowering and accumulates strength.

If you plan to plant in the open field and care for peonies in the fall, it should be carried out 30-40 days before the onset of stable cold weather. In this case, an adult transplanted plant or a young seedling obtained from dividing a bush is guaranteed to take root and does not freeze in winter.

The timing of planting of decorative perennials depends on the characteristics of the climate of a particular region. The shorter the summer, the earlier it is worth taking care of the preparation of pits and planting material.

Landing dates:

1. Peonies are planted in open ground in Siberia in August, September and October, and in the northern regions it ends 1.5–2 months earlier than in the south.
2. In the Urals, where the weather is extremely changeable, seedlings are brought into the ground from the second half of August to mid-September.
3. A week later, you can plant flowering perennials in the middle lane and in the North-West of the country.
4. And in the south of Russia, peonies without fear for the condition of the plant can be planted from September to mid-October.

When buying seedlings from a nursery or because of the early arrival of cold weather, planting is postponed to spring. Unfortunately, if the plants have an open root system, they do not tolerate this procedure very well. Weakened after wintering peonies acclimatize for a long time, and sometimes even over the whole summer they cannot recover.

To eliminate unpleasant consequences, planting peonies in the ground in the spring is carried out very early, in the soil moist after the snow melts, until the hot weather sets in, and the plants themselves do not grow.

The exception is peonies with a closed root system in containers. They can be planted without fear from spring to autumn.

Caring for peonies after planting in open ground

Peony vegetation begins in early May and ends in late autumn. Caring for peonies in the open field in spring begins with very careful loosening of the soil, watering, if necessary, and fertilizing.

Peonies are watered infrequently, but very abundantly, in order to completely wet the earthen lump and the roots that braid it. Since the plant has to grow foliage and prepare for flowering, the peony needs full mineral fertilizers and nitrogen.

Top dressing of peonies in open ground is done on wet ground. In order for the mixture to get to the suction roots faster, a shallow hole is made around the bush at a distance of 10-15 cm, into which the solution is poured. In the summer, especially for young plants that have not reached the age of 3-4 years, foliar fertilization with urea is useful. They are applied three times at intervals of 15–20 days from the moment the shoots appear.

In dry periods, peonies are watered at the rate of 10-15 liters per bush. It is especially important to maintain soil moisture in the first month after spring planting.

On blooming peonies, wilted flowers are regularly removed.On young plants less than 3 years old, all weak buds are also removed. All summer I weed the area under perennials, and in the fall, before the onset of cold weather, the shoots are cut off, and the soil is mulched. If the planting is carried out correctly, and the plants receive competent and sufficient care, the first flowering of the peony will begin in 2-3 years, gradually becoming brighter and more magnificent.

Planting a peony in autumn - video