Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings

Peonies are easy to grow, hardy, flower-bearing, long-lived perennials. They don't need to be divided and transplanted to keep blooming like some other perennials. However, if they are in danger of overgrowing your garden or if you would like more peonies in a particular area of ​​your garden, then it is best to divide and transplant them in the fall.

To step

1. Cut the stems of the peonies to ground level in September.
2. Prepare your new planting site. It is better to prepare the soil for the new plant before digging peonies out of the ground. Plant the newly divided plants as soon as possible so that the roots do not have time to dry out.
   • Choose a place in full sun. While peonies can survive in partial shade, they thrive in places that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
   • Work the soil and enrich it with peat moss or compost if necessary. Peonies prefer well-drained, rich soil.
3. Dig around and under the plant, removing as much of the sprawling root area as possible.
4. Shake the plant gently to remove loose soil. This will give you a better view of the roots. You should be able to see the buds (eyes) on top of the root structure. Rinse the roots with a garden hose.
5. Cut the plant cluster into smaller pieces using a sharp knife. Make sure each new part has at least three buds and enough root system.
6. Dig a hole for the new plant that is slightly larger than the plant's root system.
7. Place the peony in the hole at a depth so that the buds are 2.5-5 cm below ground level. If the buds are higher than 2 inches (5 cm) below ground, take the plant out and add more soil to the hole. Peonies planted at a greater depth can sometimes fail to bloom.
8. Fill the hole with soil for the rest. Level the soil to make it more solid.
9. Water the peonies well. Keep them well moist for several weeks while the new plants develop their roots.
10. Cover the area around and above the plant with 7 to 12 inches of straw or another organic ground cover. The bedding layer will help protect the soil from thawing and freezing back during the winter months, which could kill the plant.
11. Remove the bedding in early spring before new growth begins.

Tips

• Sometimes peonies thrive in a certain place for many years and then suddenly stop blooming. When this occurs, dig up the plant and transplant it to another place to revitalize and rejuvenate it. You can divide the plant or transplant it in its entirety at this point.
• Freshly transplanted peonies may not be able to bloom during the first two years. If they do bloom in the first year after transplanting, some gardeners believe that you should remove and discard the flower buds to encourage the plant to produce more flowers in the following years.

Warnings

• Peonies can be divided and transplanted at any time of the year, but transplanting during the summer can stress the plant and reduce its chances of survival.