How to Transplant Peonies

Today’s blog post features how to transplant peonies keep reading to learn more!

When?

Knowing when to transplant your peonies is half the battle of a successful move. For peonies, fall is the ideal time to dig up the plants. This is because their metabolism slows, causing growth and development to stop.

Choose a Site to Replant

First thing to think about when transplanting peonies is that they need to have full sun to get the energy to create the new blossoms. Peonies only bloom once a year, and it can be disappointing to get only a few blooms. Choose a location that gets at least six hours of full sun each day, usually the south side of your home is best.

How to Dig Up a Peony

Don't think less of digging up the rootball when transplanting a peony. A peony's health begins with the health of the rootstock, so you will want to preserve as much as you can while minimizing any damage that might provide a pathway for bugs or diseases. *Do not lift the plant by the stems.

Prepare the Soil for Peonies

Peonies need soil with good drainage other wise they will not be able to healthy drink. If you have sticky clay or sandy gravel, this will not work for a healthy peony. Amending the soil with compost will be the the best option. Mix it in 50/50 with the native soil and compost.

How Deep to Place the Peony

Peony planting depth is a critical matter that will determine future blooming. If you think of the eyes as buds and look for pinkish nubs at the base of the crown you will locate them. These eye buds are next year's flowering stems. If you bury them too deeply, they will never emerge and develop. Place them just beneath the soil's surface, no more than two inches deep. This is true even in cold climates. No worries, these dormant eye buds will not be damaged by frigid winters.