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.
Select a well drained site with 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.)
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.
Never plant in a low spot where water will stand as this will kill your peony. They have no tolerance for wet soils!
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 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. For those experimenting with growing peonies in USDA Growing Zone 9 the eyes are planted so that they are just covered with soil at ground level.
It is suggested that you water as you fill the hole 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 and ice cream 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.
Remember peonies are large plants and each plant should be spaced about 36 away from its 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. Be sure to avoid locations where competing tree and shrub roots will rob the plant of moisture and nutrients.
This is the only year you will need to mulch your peony in the fall after the ground has frozen. The mulch selected should be light and loose such as a small grain straw or dry oak leaves and should be applied 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. 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.
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! | 
