Honestly, the best time to transplant peonies is in September. As a rule, hostas tend to grow bigger the longer they stay in one spot, so if you’re wanting a substantially sized plant, avoid frequent transplanting. Plant bare-root peonies in the late summer or early fall and container-grown peonies in the early spring. Occasionally, however, it becomes necessary to move established plants. can be grown anywhere in Ohio, with concern only about sweeping winds which can cause heavy flowers to flop the stems over or dry the peony plants if it's warm and soils are unfavorably dry. However, if you move your peony in the spring just … Wright holds a graduate diploma in environmental horticulture from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science in public horticulture from the University of Delaware. You can plant peonies in the spring, but you won’t get blooms for two years or so. Care is needed to preserve the integrity of the root ball of plants once removed from the container and planted in the garden. Peonies transplant better when you divide them. September is the best time to transplant peonies. The month of September gives the roots time to settle in and grow before frost hardens the ground. Knowing when to transplant your peonies is half the battle of a successful move. Provide support for varieties with large flowers. Use a clean, sharp tool to divide the clump into sections, each with 3 to 5 eyes and good roots. Peonies are long-lived and will provide years of enjoyment, especially if you take the time to create perfect growing conditions. Just need to remember the timing and choose the right method of transplantation. Peonies shaded by large trees or shrubs should be moved to a sunny site to improve flowering. Try to retain as much of the root system as possible. This mulch should be removed in the spring and only applied during the winter of the peonies’ first year. Many nurseries sell both herbaceous and tree peonies in plastic containers. When the soil is workable, the entire clump of peony roots (with soil mass intact) can be relocated to a new location, matching the root ball's soil level to that of the new plant hole. from the nursery, you get a bag of what appears to be dried up spiders. Herbaceous peony roots look like beige to white-colored carrots, with small growing points at the top called "eyes.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This will allow ample sunlight to access the shrub and proper air circulation to prevent fungal diseases that tend to attack peonies during wet springs. Transplant it in the very early spring. Cut down the foliage Spring transplanting also works fine as long as you wait until soil has warmed up a bit. (Find your planting zone here.) Helpful. Peony Transplant Features in Spring You may opt to cut off old flowers or the developing four-part seed heads on peonies, but never remove green or yellowing leaves. Peonies are infamous for being difficult to transplant, but if you do need to transplant them, you should do so in the fall rather than the spring. Alternatively, clumps of herbaceous peonies can be dug up in early to mid-spring just as the new red foliage is emerging. If you are planting peonies in a bed that has never before been used for growing perennial plants, amend the soil so it allows your peonies to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients. Bloom time for peonies varies from late spring to late summer, depending on variety, but all types are best planted in the fall, about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. Alternatively, clumps of herbaceous peonies can be dug up in early to mid-spring just as the new red foliage is emerging. There are two ways to propagate these flowers - using seeds and dividing the root. Large, vigorous plants can be dug and divided for propagation purposes. Ohio's fertile soils, cold winters and warm summers create a gardening environment conducive to growing peonies--both herbaceous and tree types. Jacob J. Wright became a full-time writer in 2008, with articles appearing on various websites. Avoid shady areas near large trees and shrubs. These union scars must be 4 to 5 inches below the soil surface, certainly no deeper. Herbaceous peonies can be propagated by division in autumn, while tree peonies are better propagated by layering. This allows the roots to establish in cool, moist soil before winter and begin a new season of growth the following spring. How often you need to transplant hostas varies. Asked July 29, 2016, 4:26 PM EDT. Peonies like a good chill in the winter. Peonies can also be spring-transplanted but I’ve done better with an early fall move with them. Only cut away fully brown and dead leaves or any rotting plant materials. When is it best to transplant peonies: in spring, summer or autumn? How and when can I transplant? The peonies bloomed in May so at least that was over with. –Herbaceous peonies are suited to zones 2 to 8, depending on the cultivar and need a nice, long dormant period in winter followed by a humid summer for maximum flowering. Peonies have been a staple in central Ohio gardens for generations, and for good reason. All Rights Reserved. Their flowers are magnificent but fleeting, lasting only a few weeks in … Poorly drained soils can often be improved by working in large amounts of compost or peat. Your email address will not be published. For the most part, transplanting peonies is a job that doesn’t usually need done for 10 to 15 years. Plant, divide and transplant peonies in early fall for best results, but early spring will suffice as long as the soil is workable. Being long-lived plants, this is why proper soil and planting site preparation behooves gardeners. The best time to move your peonies … Peonies resent transplanting, so be sure you really want or need to move them. How to Divide and Transplant Peonies: 11 Steps (with Pictures) First, dig up the plant. Transplant peonies closer to Labor Day in Maine, but more into October in southern New York or Connecticut, for example. When to Transplant Peonies . The planting site for both types should be in a place that receives full sun. Begin by cutting off the peony stems near ground level. Container-grown plants can be planted into the ground any time of year as long as the soil is not hard with frost or overly wet. When to transplant peonies depends on the results you want. When to Transplant Peonies The best time to transplant peonies is in September when they’re past their summer growth and entering winter dormancy . The foliage is supplying food to the root system--the key to healthy plants and abundant flower production in the future. Planting them too deeply prevents production of flowers. darlenes-2010 The average low temperature for Ohio is between 0 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit. But since we were moving in late June, it had to be done then. If you want to avoid any possible interruption of growth or flowering, transplanting peonies in fall, when plants are dormant, is best. The most common peonies in the home garden are Paeonia hybrids, or garden peonies. "A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants"; Christopher Brickell and H. Marc Cathey, eds. Herbaceous peony roots look like beige to white-colored carrots, with small growing points at the top called "eyes." Generally speaking, peony plants resent root disturbance. It may feel odd to leave roots so exposed, but peonies actually need this chilling to attain dormancy and set buds. Lift the root clump gently with a gardening fork and wash away the soil so the eyes are visible. –Tree peonies are less hardy and do not require the same low temperature lows. These eyes must be between 1 and 2 inches below the soil surface. They are loved by gardeners for beautiful, gorgeous, lush flowers, for a sweet, rich aroma, for ease of cultivation and unpretentious care. Use a sharp spade to dig beneath the peony clump. Transplanting rhubarb becomes a necessity no matter how good the gardener or how nice the garden. Start digging a good 18 inches away from the crown of the plant. If you must move a mature plant, fall is the time to do it—specifically, when the plant has gone dormant. Do this in the fall for best results! Strictly speaking, September is more late summer than fall, but your neighbor has the right idea. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Place the cutting debris in the compost pile to decompose. Suggested Project Book. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Incorporate large amounts of compost, well-rotted manure or fallen leaves, and other organic material into the soil. Gypsum, the Extension advises, does not work as a soil softener in Ohio. The or border may require moving the peonies. Tree peonies typically have graft-unions on their roots. The soil pH ideally is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5 to 7.5). Ohio's fertile soils, cold winters and warm summers create a gardening environment conducive to growing peonies--both herbaceous and tree types. For peonies, fall is the ideal time to dig up the plants. It sounds like they were getting shaded out by the trees—plant them in a sunny spot for the best flowering. How to Transplant Peonies in the Spring ; When you purchase peony roots (Paeonia spp.) Transplanting rhubarb is done to increase the size of your rhubarb garden, to decrease the size of your rhubarb garden, and to maintain healthy plants.This is a great task to tackle in the fall when you are already preparing your vegetable garden for winter. Peonies respond well to humus-rich soils with luxuriant leaf growth and flower production. How to transplant peonies. In the fall, peonies are preparing for dormancy. Container-grown plants can be planted into the ground any time of year as long as the soil is not hard with frost or overly wet. Required fields are marked *. If you want to transplant a peony, ideally you should wait until fall when the plant dies back. Peonies can be left undisturbed in the garden for many years. ; 2004. Prune back peony stems and foliage by 50 percent in height with a hand pruners or heavy duty scissors. Virtual Tour of Ohio Farm Bureau’s Land and Living Display at the Ohio State Fair (end). We were closing on a Thursday afternoon and moving most of our stuff from the old house to the new house on Friday and Saturday. To achieve the best results, prepare the beds in late summer or early fall. Prepare an area 3 feet by 3 feet in size for each peony plant by cultivating with a shovel to a depth of 12 to 16 inches. Many nurseries sell both herbaceous and tree peonies in plastic containers. These peonies grow 2 to 4 feet tall and are thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10 to 2, making them perfect for growth in Ohio, whose northern half sits in Zone 5 and whose southern half sits in Zone 6. Your email address will not be published. Locate a garden bed that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Gardeners value the peony for its large, colorful flowers in spring and attractive, season-long foliage. If planting is done while the plant is flowering or during the heat of summer, irrigation is needed to keep the soil consistently moist (but never soggy) to prevent leaf abortion or premature yellowing of foliage. Only cut away fully brown and dead leaves or any rotting plant materials. Peonies should be settled into place about six weeks before the ground freezes. Reply. And, what are … The peony has been a popular perennial in American gardens since the 1800's. Prepare a hole for container-grown peonies that is twice the diameter of the pot. Once planted, monitor the soil and supplement with irrigation when rains are lacking in order to keep the soil evenly moist. September is the best time to transplant established peonies. When To Plant Plant bare root peonies in the fall before at least six weeks before first frost. Clip leafy stems back to near ground level—2 to 3 inches tall. I do the vast majority of my own transplanting in the early spring. You may get blooms in the spring when you plant in the fall. All peonies require a moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Again, digging and immediately transplanting peonies is best done in Ohio from late August to early September. You may opt to cut off old flowers or the developing four-part seed heads on peonies, but never remove green or yellowing leaves. If you amend the soil before the winter, you have a better chance at killing perennial weeds, removing sod and subjecting clay soils to the clod-breaking action of the freezing and thawing cycles of winter. Submitted by The Editors on April 23, 2019 - 2:45pm. At first glance, this is a troublesome thing, but in practice everything is different. Their metabolism slows, causing … However, you may successfully transplant peonies in the spring, though you should be aware that plants moved during this season are not likely to produce the abundant flowers or foliage they've produced in the past—or may take a season or two before they start blooming. Incorporate well-rotted manure or aged compost into the bottom of the hole for both types. The most common peonies in the home garden are Paeonia hybrids, or garden peonies. Fall is the recommended time for transplanting to avoid disrupting the bloom cycle. Place the potted peony in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil, tamp down the soil gently and water well. It may feel odd to leave roots so exposed, but peonies actually need this chilling to attain dormancy and set buds. The root clumps of garden peonies (Paeonia officinalis) are typically divided and transplanted after the plants go dormant in late summer or early autumn. Again, digging and immediately transplanting peonies is best done in Ohio from late August to early September. Situated in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 and 6, peonies (Paeonia spp.) I know they don't like to be transplanted. The peony is hardy, dependable, long-lived, and easy to grow. Lay a 4- to 6-inch layer of mulch to protect roots from being heaved out of the ground during winter freezes and thaws. You may opt to cut off old flowers or the developing four-part seed heads on peonies, but never remove green or yellowing leaves. He has worked professionally at gardens in Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. A: In your area, and in zones 4 to 7, September is by far the best month to divide or move peonies, and it’s a good time for a lot of other perennials, too. With the possible exception of peonies, my experience is that all other perennials do just fine. You can also pot up bare root peonies in the fall or early winter and transplant them in the spring. In order to set their flower buds, peony roots should be planted relatively close to the soil surface; only about 2-3 inches deep. Keep potted peonies protected from severe freezing/thawing/freezing - store slightly moist in a garage/shed when temperatures dip below 10 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods. Plant bare-root peonies so the eyes—the small, red-colored buds along the roots—are 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface, but no deeper than 2 inches. M. on Jun 5, 2017. Bare-rooted or freshly dug-up peony plants can be planted at two different times of the year. The University of Ohio Extension recommends loosening the soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches and adding 1/3 by volume of compost or well-rotted manure to overwinter. Transplanting Peonies. Peonies will be happy for years without being moved, but if you notice your peonies flowering less, the plants would probably benefit from division. Peonies require at least 3 feet between each plant. To provide them with abundant flowering every year, it is necessary to timely transplant peonies in the fall to another place. Reply. Division of large peony clumps requires a few additional steps. Wait until the month of September. Sometimes we need to find our plants a new home in our garden. Peonies are the permanent inhabitants of many gardens and flowerbeds. Helpful. While it is technically possible to transplant them in spring or in summer before they go dormant, transplanting in those times is not recommended and seldom practiced because success is unpredictable and the flowering takes two to three years longer. But it's also possible to dig and plant the entire root ball in the spring before the plants start to sprout new growth for the season. The best time of year for transplanting peonies is September. Then carefully dig around and under each plant. Gardeners consider the second method to be more optimal. I need to transplant two peonies because they are overshadowed by junipers and not thriving. Peonies perform best in full sun and well-drained soils. Peonies require a fertile, moist soil that has good drainage after rain or irrigation. Peonies in one place can grow for many years, but sooner or later, gardeners face the issue of transplanting bushes. Traditionally, peonies are best planted in the late summer to early autumn which, according to Hope Weber of The Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service, is late August to mid-September statewide. , eds, 2019 - 2:45pm or garden peonies only cut away fully brown and dead leaves any., dependable, long-lived, and website in this browser for the next i! Want to transplant two peonies because they are overshadowed by junipers and not.! 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