PEONY SECRETS. MY top tips for growing & propagating lush & beautiful peonies, by No Nonsense Gardening with Jill Bretherton on YouTube. 10 min 9 s.
- Video length
- 10 min 9 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a spot in full sun with soil that drains freely, and leave about 90 cm between plants so air can move around them.
Dig a hole wider than the roots and set the crown so the eyes sit no more than 3 cm below the soil surface. Planting too deep is the main reason peonies refuse to flower.
Fill the hole, firm the soil with your hands and water deeply, then spread a 5 cm layer of compost around the plant, clear of the stems.
Water about 2 cm a week in the first year and let the top of the soil dry a little between waterings.
Set a peony ring or stakes in place in early spring, before the buds swell, so heavy double flowers do not flop over in rain.
Deadhead faded blooms by cutting the flower head off just above a strong leaf, but leave the green foliage on the plant.
Cut the stems back to ground level in late autumn once the leaves turn yellow, and clear the fallen debris away.
To make new plants, lift a clump in early autumn, cut it into sections with a sharp knife, each with 3 to 5 eyes and firm roots, and replant them at the same shallow depth.
Tips and common mistakes
Ants on the buds are harmless and only after the sweet sap, so a gentle shake or a rinse with water is enough.
Do not cut the foliage back straight after flowering, because those leaves build the energy for next spring's blooms.
Peonies dislike being moved, so leave a clump alone for several years and divide it only when it gets overcrowded.
In a pot, use a large container with drainage holes and keep the crown just as shallow as you would in the ground.
Questions
Why is my peony not flowering?
It is usually planted too deep or sitting in too much shade. Check that the eyes are no more than 3 cm below the surface and that the plant gets at least six hours of sun.
When should I cut back peonies after flowering?
Cut off the dead flower heads in summer, then cut the whole stems down to the ground in late autumn when the leaves yellow and die back.
Can I grow peonies in containers?
Yes, in a large pot with good drainage, though you will get fewer flowers. Keep the crown shallow and water regularly through the growing season.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
