Many home gardeners are plagued by doubts when pruning peonies. This tutorial clears up the insecure feeling. Read here when and how to properly cut peonies.

Fading should be cleaned up

Table of Contents

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  1. peonies differences
  2. Perennial Peonies
  3. Cutting Itoh hybrids
  4. Shrub Peonies
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. Peonies - differences at a glance

    The competent pruning of peonies takes into account striking differences in growth. The following table provides a summary overview of the relevant categories with information on the need for cutting:

    Perennial Peonies Intersectional (Itoh) hybrids Shrub Peonies
    growth herbaceous shoots woody base, predominantly herbaceous peduncles shrubby, completely woody
    cutting needs each year each year as needed
    best time to cut Late winter (February/March) Late winter (February/March) late winter (March)
    alternative time fall fall none

    Autumn is not an alternative date for pruning shrub peonies as needed. The reason is the risk of frost damage. As with all shrubs, every cut causes an adequate, initially herbaceous-soft shoot. Shortly before the onset of winter, the time window is not open long enough for fresh shoots to mature, become woody and be prepared for frost. Even a few degrees below freezing leave pronounced frost damage, which in the worst case affects the entire peony bush.

    Cut perennial peonies to the ground

    Peonies in this category thrive with herbaceous shoots that bear impressive flowers in spring. These shoots come from so-called overwintering buds, which have spent the cold season deep in the ground on the thickened roots. After the floral fairy tale of spring in beds and tubs, the shoots gradually wither and die after the first frost. Ideally, the dead plant parts will continue to act as natural winter protection for some time. How to cut perennial peonies correctly:

    • The best time is in late winter
    • Alternatively, prune in autumn when all leaves and shoots have retracted
    • Clean and sharpen cutting tool
    • Cut back all shoots to 5 to 10 cm

    Thus, perennial peonies do not differ from other garden perennials such as phlox, aster or foxglove. The constant alternation between growth and decay with a frost-resistant root as the starting point guarantees that the blossoms will unfold anew every year. The task of cutting care is primarily to create space for the fresh shoots.

    If you decide to cut back in autumn, please be sure to wait until all parts of the plant are gone fully retracted are. This process is important to the survival of your peony. Important nutrients are transferred from the worn-out leaves to the rootstock as an energy reserve for next year's budding.

    digression

    Trimming promotes flowering

    When inspecting your garden in the spring, scissors should be handy. Regular trimming of faded blooms increases bloom abundance and improves the chances of a lavish rebloom. On perennial peonies, either cut back faded stems to 10 centimeters above the ground or just the withered inflorescence. On shrub peonies, remove wilted blossoms to just above the next pair of healthy leaves. This pruning clears the way for previously shaded or dormant buds, which are then brought to life by sunlight.

    Pruning Itoh hybrids moderately

    Intersectional - short Itoh - hybrids are a successful cross between shrub and perennial peonies. Starting from a woody base, strong stems sprout each spring, on which the picturesque flower heads are enthroned. Consequently, Itoh peonies play in a league with popular subshrubs such as lavender or rosemary. However, Itoh hybrids come up trumps with the advantage that they happily sprout fresh shoots even from old wood. How to properly prune intersectional peony varieties:

    • The best time is in late winter, just in time before budding begins
    • Apply the scissors over the woody shoot bases
    • Ideally cut slightly at an angle a short distance from an eye

    The woody parts of a shoot should be left standing for a good reason. Often there are valuable buds on these approaches, which sprout fresh in spring. However, the majority of this year's flower stalks develop directly from the overwintering buds of the rootstock. It is therefore no cause for concern if one or the other lignified shoot stump dies in spring.

    tips

    With a bypass secateurs you are well equipped for trimming herbaceous peonies. Two sharp blades create smooth cut surfaces that close quickly. Rose or pruning shears are perfect for cutting into woody shoots, and ideally they also have a bypass mechanism. To trim an old shrub peony, master the wood with a nimble folding saw.

    Prune shrub peonies as needed

    For shrub peonies, a pruning date is rarely noted on the care plan. In contrast to their herbaceous counterparts, the flowering shrubs naturally develop a harmonious silhouette with abundant blossom wood. Uncut, tree peonies gain in splendor and size over time, which cannot be improved by any pruning. There are of course two exceptions that suggest using scissors or a saw:

    stimulate branching

    If the conditions at the location are not ideal, shrub peonies are stingy with sprouting side branches. You don't have to be satisfied with two bare scaffolding shoots. The sluggish growth gets going by prescribing a vigorous pruning of the flowering shrub in spring. How to proceed professionally:

    • Cut back sparsely branched shoots by half to two thirds
    • Best cutting point: 5mm above a bud that faces outward
    • Lowest point of intersection: 30 cm above the ground

    Measure the extent of the pruning according to this rule of thumb: the more sparse the current branching, the stronger the pruning. This is where the growth law of peak funding comes into play. As a result, buds at shoot tips are preferred and supplied with nutrients under high pressure. By cutting off the upper parts of the shoot, the juice pressure on the remaining buds increases, which now sprout vigorously.

    The radical cut has its price. At least for this year there is no flowering. With a large portion of compost and horn shavings (€32.93) or an organic complete fertilizer, you can help the flowering shrub to grow again.

    Repair snow pressure damage

    Shrub peonies thrive on brittle wood. Under the weight of large amounts of snow, the branches break off easily. If the crown is otherwise dense and evenly shaped, cut off the damaged shoot below the break point. Choose an eye on the outside as a starting point for the shears or saw so that the fresh wood grows in the right direction.

    If there is significant damage from snow or storms, a rejuvenation cut regulates the problem. In accordance with the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the period for extensive pruning extends from October 1st to February 28th. Cut or saw off all main shoots to a height of 30 centimeters. Woody peonies reliably sprout from old wood if it is a well-rooted shrub. Under this condition, there is sufficient root pressure so that new shoots sprout from old branch stumps.

    This video offers an easy-to-understand explanation of the difference between perennial and tree peonies and the right way to care for them:

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    Pruning optimizes shrub peonies

    With perennial peonies and intersectional hybrids, you can delete a plant cut without replacing it. If your peony thrives as a shrub, the beauty of the flowers will benefit from this type of pruning for a lifetime. In the first spring after planting, cut off all shoots above the first or second bud from the bottom. The resulting accumulation of sap causes vigorous branching at the base. The cut falls victim to the first flowering period. In return, you optimize a stable, stable shrub structure whose branches reliably carry the heavy flower heads.

    frequently asked Questions

    Are peonies poisonous?

    Unfortunately, the magnificent peonies also have a dark side, as they are permeated with the poisonous alkaloid paeonine. If you like to decorate hot and cold dishes with colorful petals, peonies are not suitable for this purpose. Please do not use the green parts of the plant as food for pets such as hamsters, rabbits or budgerigars. Even horses, cows or goats can experience severe symptoms of poisoning if they eat the clippings.

    We would like to transplant our perennial peonies to a sunnier spot. When is the best time? What should we pay attention to?

    When perennial peonies gradually retire in autumn, this is the best time to change location. Cut back all shoots to 5 to 10 centimeters. Then dig out the root balls in such a way that the plants can take as much soil as possible with them and only a little root mass is lost. Plant peonies in the new location just as deep in the ground as before. The eyes on the bulbous roots should be covered with soil no higher than 5 cm. In the period that follows, make sure you have an adequate water supply.

    What is the difference between farmer peony and shrub peony in terms of pruning care?

    A farmer's peony is also known as a perennial peony because it thrives on herbaceous shoots. When it comes to pruning, the opulent classics from the cottage garden are no different from other perennials. A cut back close to the ground in autumn or spring is enough for them to sprout again. In contrast, perennial peonies lignify from the base over the years. Their harmonious growth unfolds without regular pruning measures. An exception applies to damage caused by snow pressure or to improve branching.

    The 'Cora Louise' semi-shrub peony has been growing uncut in our garden for a number of years. When and how far is a cut possible?

    Semi-shrub peonies, so-called Itoh hybrids, essentially behave like perennials. In autumn leaves and shoots above ground slowly dry up. The dead plant parts naturally protect the rootstock from moisture and frost throughout the winter. Before the shoots appear in late winter, you can cut off the peony to just above the woody shoot bases. Please pay attention to whether and where new buds are already present. There is no cut at these points or you position the scissors a little higher.

    Do peonies suffer from soil fatigue the same way roses do?

    Indeed it is. Do not plant new peonies in a location where peonies have already established themselves. Otherwise, stunted growth is inevitable as a result of soil fatigue. If there has been a peony in this spot in the past 2 years, replacing the floor can fix the problem. In all other cases, we recommend a break of at least 4 years before reintroducing peonies.

    The 3 most common cutting mistakes

    On an uncut perennial peony, this year's shoots have a hard time making their way through the dead leaves. Anyone who likes to let nature take its course in the garden will struggle with flowering laziness on their peonies. This does not apply to shrubby peony species, which are by no means to be cut like a perennial, but only a case for scissors if necessary. The following table summarizes the 3 most common pruning errors in peonies with tips for expert prevention:

    cutting error damage picture prevention
    Perennial peonies never cut declining willingness to bloom cut every year in late winter
    Shrub peony cut like a perennial uneven growth, dense mesh of thin shoots Prune shrub peonies only if necessary
    not cleaned up unkempt appearance, short flowering period cut off faded flowers

    Cunning pests and pathogens speculate on another frequent lapse in cutting care. The uninvited guests prefer to use contaminated cutting tools as a means of transport in order to gain access to peonies in this way. Please do not forget to treat the blade or saw blade with hot water and alcohol before and after a cut.

    tips

    Peonies like to celebrate their picturesque blossom festival indoors. All peonies are suitable for vase cutting, regardless of their species and variety. Cut flowering shoots with solid colored buds that feel nice and soft with light pressure. Ideally, leave two leaves per stem above the water to care for the flowers. In order for the plant to cope with the vase cut, you should cut out a maximum of one third of the flower stalks.

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Vegetable garden