Expert Q&A for How to Plant Peonies

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Do peonies need full sun or shade?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

They do best in full sun. Place them in a location where they'll receive 6-8 hours of sun each day.

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Do peony plants multiply?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Peony plants don't multiply on their own. However, their tubers can be divided if the plant grows too large.

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Question

Can you plant peonies in the spring?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Yes, peonies can be planted in the spring. They may not bloom until the following year.

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How deep do you plant a peony plant?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Plant peonies so the buds on the tubers are no deeper than 2 inches below the ground. Tree peonies should be planted with the graft below the soil.

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If I'm removing dead flowers, do I also have to remove the stem? If so, how far down should I cut?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

Remove the stem down to the next strong leaf, so the stem isn’t sticking out past the foliage.

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I was given permission to remove some peonies before a building was removed. It is early spring, and the stems are already well established and about a foot tall. Can they be safely transplanted, and does the growth need to be cut back?

Lauren Kurtz
Professional Gardener
Lauren Kurtz is a Naturalist and Horticultural Specialist. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014.

Lauren Kurtz

Professional Gardener

Expert Answer

The best time to transplant peonies is in the fall but if you must transplant in the spring be sure to dig up as much of the root ball as possible. Deeply water peonie before digging it up. If the plants are extremely large you can cut growth back to make transporting easier .Otherwise it isn’t necessary to cut back. Transport peonie in a large pot or wrapped in a burlap bag or tarp to protect root ball.

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