Mailing Address/Office:
Hidden Springs Flower Farm
813 Elm St.
Anoka, MN 55303-2823

Guarantee , Growing Instructions

We guarantee to deliver a healthy root that is true to name and ready to start growing once planted according to the planting instructions included below. If you are at all displeased with your order please contact us within 48 hours of receipt and return your plants within 48 hours in the original packaging for a 100% refund. After that time period you are accepting responsibility for the plants growth and well being. Once the plants are in your care, it is your responsibility to ensure they succeed. Please call or e-mail us with any questions you have regarding your peony order immediately. We can not be held responsible for losses due to improper soil preparation, incorrect planting location, fertilizing, improperly adjusted sprinkler systems, handling or storage, extremes of weather or a delay in planting on your part. We can not guarantee your success since that depends on factors beyond our control. We ship a standard 3-5 eye peony root for all our peony varieties except our Last Chance Sale roots that are as described on that web page. Peony species may have 2-4 eyes which is due to their unique root structure that may be considerably smaller than the common garden peony. Peony roots are all different and some plants may naturally have finer (smaller) roots than others as well as some that are more inclined to be larger than average. This is a difference in variety and does not reflect on the garden performance of the plants. Same way people come in all sizes you don't think less of them for their size. Species roots are generally smaller than the modern hybrids and so are many of the Rock Garden Peonies which are close to the species in their parentage. We will never substitute varieties, so we encourage you to order before rare and high demand varieties sell out during peak peony bloom season. If we are unable to supply a first quality root due to natural circumstances beyond our control for your order we send a refund rather than putting them on backorder or shipping you what we would consider unaceptable for that variety.

Growing Instructions Planting Instructions for Your Bare Root Peonies. We make special efforts to get your roots to you at the proper time for planting in the fall and hope you take advantage of this and plant the roots immediately. Holding the roots for any length of time before planting defeats the purpose of receiving fresh dug roots that are ready to start growing a new root system and building a strong plant. You may use the small amount of peat moss your order arrived in while planting your peony roots. Selecting a Planting Site Select a well drained site with a rich well aerated soil which receives sun for most of the day. (At least 10 hours is best for stronger stems. More sunlight is better! If you don't have 10 hours of sun we suggest tree peonies if you have 4 hours of direct sun during the day.) Preparing the Soil Add peat moss at a rate of one part peat moss for every 3 parts of soil if you are growing peonies in sandy soils to improve root growth and extend flower life and increase the total number of flowers on the plants. If you have excessively heavy clay soils the addition of 1 part peat moss to every 3 parts of clay soil will improve aeration of the soil and increase the height of the soil slightly making a mound and providing better drainage. Raised beds with a depth of 12-18" of additional well drained soil is recommended for the hybrids and species that will die in soggy soils before you can blink an eye. Avoid Wet Locations! Never plant in a low spot where water will stand as this will kill your peony. They have no tolerance for wet soils! Fertilizers You may use bone meal or a bulb fertilizer at the time of planting according to the instructions on the container being sure to avoid letting the fertilizer touch the roots directly. Dig a Proper Planting Hole Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the roots without bending them. You wouldn't like to try to fit in a shirt or blouse that you couldn't button so don't let your poor peonies suffer the same indignity of a poorly prepared planting hole. Set the root in the hole so that the dormant buds(eyes)will be one inch below the ground when the soil is gently but firmly filled in around the root. Warm Climate Suggestions Peonies are cold loving perennials and best adapted to cold northern growing regions of the world. For those experimenting with growing peonies in USDA Growing Zone 8b and 9a the eyes are planted at nearly ground level with soil just covering the dormant bud. For these 2 zones we also recommend that you place the peony where it is in a bright filtered sunshine during the hotest part of the day. Select Japanese, single and semidouble forms and those double that are rated as a week 1-5 bloom date rating. Some gardeners have reported good success growing the hybrid peonies which have parents from slightly warmer climates in their background. You must also pay very good attention to watering in the fall which is when the new roots and flower buds are formed, and again during growth and flowering. If the roots are not evenly moist in the fall you can expect very little growth and possibly no flowers the following year. The first two years are critical for establishment of this plant which is known to live for centuries! Late flowering (Week 6 and Week 7 Bloom Date Rating)Peonies do not bloom dependably in zones 8B and 9A so save yourself the heartache and select earlyer flowering vartieties from Week 1-5 or those that are listed on the hybrid pages. Watering is Critical It is suggested that you water as you fill with the soil so that there are no dry pockets of soil as the peony will be growing the majority of it's new roots in the fall. If it is dry for an extended period of time be sure and water the area to avoid drying out completely. This may mean getting the hose out after the first few frosts in the fall especially on sandy soil. The last thing you should do after the Thanksgiving pie is eaten is go out and check to make sure the soil where you planted your peony root is not dry. If it is take the empty ice cream pail from the kitchen and fill it with water and give the roots a drink of water. Spacing Remember peonies are large plants and each plant should be spaced about 36” away from it’s neighboring plant. This spacing also ensures that the neighboring plants do not shade the peony. If the peonies receive less than 8 hours of sun they do not make particularly nice foliage plants and should not be expected to bloom. Avoid Competition from Tree and Shrub Roots Be sure to avoid locations where competing tree and shrub roots will rob the plant of moisture and nutrients. Winter Mulch the First Year Only and Remove Very Early in the SPring This is the only year you will need to mulch your peony in the fall after the ground has frozen. The mulch should be removed on April 1st or after the snow has melted the following spring or as soon as ground thawing is noted as peonies begin growth very early in the spring. For zones 7-8 that may be the first few days in March. Those left covered too long may suffer rot damage from a soggy mulch. The plants are more cold tolerant than they are soggy wet conditions tolerant. If you've read this far you are your way to a great peony garden! Peonies are one of the longest lived of all perennials and bring literally decades of joy each spring. We wish you much success and if you should have any questions please send us an e-mail via our website at www.HiddenSpringsFlowerFarm.com . Or, you may call us from 9 am to 5 pm Central time at 763-218-4540. Happy Gardening! Brigitte and Harvey