A Detailed Guide to Peony Planting Methods and Precautions

SummarySoil: Choose well-drained, fertile and loose sandy soil; before planting, it is recommended to disinfect with carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl solution. Watering: In spring, after moving the plant outdoors, water once and then loosen the soil, keeping the soil moist; in summer, prevent waterlogging during rainy days. Fertilizing: Newly planted peonies should be fertilized after half a year, generally with 3 topdressings a year. Pruning: In spring, keep the branches and buds, and cut off weak, pest-infected and spindly branches; in summer, cut off the spent flowers.

The peony is renowned for its national beauty and heavenly fragrance, praised since ancient times, widely cultivated in China, and long since introduced abroad. The peony has brilliant colors, a delicate fragrance, a magnificent appearance, and a great many varieties. It enjoys the reputation of “king of flowers”. So, how should peonies be planted? And what needs attention during the planting process?

I. How to Plant Peonies

1. Sowing: After peony seeds mature in early August, harvest them promptly and sow immediately. If sown too late, the seeds will not readily germinate the following spring. Peonies grown from seed take 5-6 years to bloom, so this method is generally used only when breeding new varieties.

2. Division: Dig up a large peony plant that has grown for more than five years with its roots, place it in a cool shady spot to dry for 2-3 days, and when the roots become soft, divide it into small clumps of 2-3 branches each and plant them in the nursery.

3. Grafting: Cut soil shoots or one-year-old short branches growing from a large peony plant, whittle 2-3cm of the base into a wedge shape, and insert it into a 15-20cm long peony root (Paeonia lactiflora rootstock), wrap it tightly with hemp fiber, smear on mud and plant it. The grafting time is from early September to early October. Grafted seedlings should be planted in trenches, with a plant spacing of 10-15cm and a row spacing of 30-40cm. After planting, build up a soil ridge, so that the scion is not exposed above the soil.

II. Peony Planting Methods and Precautions

1. Soil requirements

1. Generally, well-drained, fertile and loose sandy soil is sufficient. The soil mix is: leaf mold, garden soil, fine river sand.

2. Before planting, disinfect with carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl solution before use.

2. Watering methods

1. In spring, after moving the plant outdoors, water once; after watering thoroughly, loosen the soil, then keep the soil moist.

2. Water according to the size of the pot soil; for smaller pots, the frequency of watering after moving outdoors should be appropriately increased. In summer rainy weather, promptly pour out any accumulated water in the pot.

3. Fertilizing methods

1. Pay attention to the timing of fertilization. Newly planted peonies must not be fertilized within half a year; start fertilizing after half a year.

2. Generally, 3 fertilizations are needed per year. The first is pre-bloom fertilizer, applied when the soil thaws and the leaves unfold; the second is post-bloom fertilizer, applied within half a month after the flowers fade. The third is winter fertilizer, applied before winter begins.

4. Pruning methods

Peony pruning is divided into two periods: winter and spring-summer.

1. In spring, select and keep branches and buds, remove the excess branches and buds, and cut off weak, pest-infected and spindly branches.

2. After the flowers fall in summer, cut off the spent flowers. In late autumn, cut off diseased branches, dead branches and spindly branches.

5. Temperature and light requirements

1. Sufficient light is very beneficial to the growth of peonies, but they must not be exposed to prolonged blazing sun.

2. The suitable growth temperature is 25~25℃; above 25℃ the plant goes dormant. Before and during the flowering period, the plant should be ventilated promptly.

III. Key Points for Pruning Peonies

1. Early spring pruning

In early spring, the peony wakes from dormancy and gradually transitions to the growth period. At this time, check the small buds on the branches; keeping only the top 2~3 young buds is enough, and all the rest can be removed. In addition, check whether suckers have grown from the root crown and dig them out promptly.

2. Pruning after the flowers fade

After the peony flowering period, remove all the petals and withered leaves. When flower bud differentiation becomes fairly obvious, keep only the buds on both sides of the branch and cut off all the young buds at the top.

3. Pruning before winter

Cut off all overlapping branches, crossing branches and diseased or pest-infested branches on the plant; thin and weak branches can be shortened, and spindly branches should be cut back.

IV. Solutions for Peony Leaves Turning Yellow

1. Water-yellow: water control should be carried out immediately, and watering should be adjusted appropriately.

2. Drought-yellow: water promptly.

3. Yellowing of peony leaves caused by alkaline soil: a 0.2% to 0.3% ferrous sulfate solution can be sprayed on the leaves 3 to 5 times; the concentration must not be too high, and it should be mixed and used immediately.

4. Fertilizer-yellow: fertilizer should be controlled, the soil cultivated, and water applied.

5. Nutrient-deficiency yellow: for flowers lacking nutrients, never apply a large amount of concentrated fertilizer at one time, to avoid burning the roots.

6. Root rot: maintain soil permeability and ensure proper drainage.

7. Pests and diseases: check promptly and quickly apply pesticide to control soil-dwelling pests.

The Tang dynasty poet Liu Yuxi wrote: “The herbaceous peony in the courtyard is bewitching but lacks grace; the lotus on the pond is pure but short on feeling. Only the peony is truly of national beauty; when it blooms, the whole capital is stirred.” This shows that the peony holds an important place in the hearts of men of letters, and it is moreover a precious woody flower unique to China.