How to plant peony roots? Planting methods and precautions

Peony roots are generally planted in autumn, from mid-September to October. Prepare a loose, airy soil with good drainage, prune the root system of the peony seedling, promptly cut off rotten and weak roots, place them in carbendazim to disinfect, remove after half an hour, and plant them in the soil.

1. Soil

Peonies prefer fairly loose, fertile sandy soil, and planting in heavy clay soil or low-temperature locations should be avoided. Before planting peonies, some diseased roots need to be cut off to help the peony absorb nutrients.

2. Light

When planting peonies in the ground, choose a higher spot facing east and receiving sun; when grown in pots, they should be placed on an east-facing balcony with plenty of sunlight. If placed on a south-facing balcony or rooftop platform, shade should be provided on the west side. The hot, humid weather in the south is extremely unfavorable for peony growth, so cultivating peonies in the south requires giving them specific environmental conditions.

3. Water

If there is drought and the ground is dry, water moderately, but it is better to keep them dry than wet; water only after the soil has dried. Peony roots grow vertically into the soil, so loosening the soil should be done deeply. Deeply loosen the surface soil at least 3 times each year: once after flowering in spring, once after the plum rain season in summer, and once after typhoons and heavy rain in autumn.

4. Fertilizing

Apply fertilizer at least three times each year: the first time before flowering to promote blooming; the second time half a month after flowering to replenish the nutrients consumed by blooming; and the third time before overwintering as winter fertilizer. The main fertilizer is decomposed cake fertilizer. The amount of fertilizer should preferably be 0.5-1 kg per plant each time, and chemical compound fertilizer can also be mixed in.

5. Pruning

After sprouting in spring, keep about 5 branches and remove the rest to concentrate nutrients so that the flowers will be large and brightly colored the following year. In autumn and winter, along with clearing the garden, cut off dried flower stalks, thin and weak branches, and non-flowering branches. When grown in pots, prune them into the shape you like as needed.

6. Pest prevention

A common disease of peonies is brown spot disease. At first, yellow-green spots appear on the leaf surface, then gradually expand to form brown or black patches. Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed 1-2 times per month, or 3 times if the condition is severe. Leaves that are seriously infected should be cut off and burned to prevent the disease from spreading.