Peony - Jan Van Leeuwen

Planting Bare-Root Peonies – Autumn or Spring

The classic time to plant bare-root peonies is early autumn, in September–October. At that point, the peonies enter a dormant period and can calmly establish their roots in the soil ahead of the next season. However, you don’t have to wait until autumn. Peonies can also be successfully planted in spring. As the soil warms up, the roots quickly get going and can establish themselves in the flower bed during the season. With good soil, a little extra care and regular watering, spring-planted peonies will also get off to a strong start.

Position:

Peonies do not like having their roots sitting in water, so choose a spot with well-drained soil. They produce the most abundant blooms in full sun, but partial shade can also work. A position that is excessively sunny and hot may slightly shorten the flowering period.

Planting tips:

Once you have chosen the location, it is time to prepare the soil. Remove any weeds and dig a hole approximately 30–50 cm deep. Loosen the soil and, if possible, mix in a handful of bone meal before placing the bare-root peony in the ground. Peonies also benefit from biochar, which improves soil structure and helps the soil retain both moisture and nutrients. 

Place the root clump with the eye-like buds facing upwards. These “eyes” are the peony’s shoot buds. It is important that the roots are planted 3–5 cm deep. If planted too shallowly, the peony may freeze during winter. If planted too deeply, there is a risk that the peony will not flower.

Care:

During the first winter, it is advisable to protect the peony throughout the colder months using, for example, spruce branches or bark mulch. In spring, such covering instead serves as protection against the strong spring sun. Excessively strong sunlight early in the season can encourage shoots to emerge too soon, and these may be damaged by a sudden cold snap.

Otherwise, the peony is one of the most low-maintenance plants in the garden. It requires very little, only some time to establish. After that, it will bloom beautifully and reliably for many years to come.