Peonies are used as specimens in borders and herbaceous hedges and are excellent cut flowers.

Herbaceous peonies need at least six hours of full sun a day for good bloom. Afternoon shade will protect flowers from fading too quickly in hot areas. Tree peonies should always have dappled or afternoon shade since the large, silky petals are damaged by excess sun.

Well-drained, loamy soil is best for good growth of peonies. Good drainage is vital to avoid root rot and fungal diseases. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost, finely ground pine bark or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and organic matter content.

Peonies prefer a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. You may need to add lime to your soil to raise the pH for best growth of peonies. Peonies are long-lived in the garden and are worth extra trouble at the time of planting, since they may stay in the same spot for many years.

Fall planting is best. Dig a hole 12 to 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Replace part of the soil in the form of a cone and spread the roots over it. Set the roots so that the tip of the eyes (swollen pink or reddish buds) will be no deeper than 1 inch below the surface of the soil. Most failures to bloom are caused by deep planting.

Tree peonies should also be planted in fall. The graft union should be an inch below ground level. Mound extra soil up around them for the first winter.

Firm the soil in well around the roots, eliminating air pockets. Water thoroughly.

Divisions with three to five eyes will reach maturity sooner than smaller divisions. If one or two eye divisions are used it may be several years before the plant flowers.

Water peonies thoroughly and deeply once every 10 to 14 days. Deep watering will encourage deep rooting. Once established, peonies are very drought-resistant.

Apply a low nitrogen complete fertilizer such as 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 at the rate of two to three pounds per 100 square feet in the spring when the stems are about 2 or 3 inches high. Well-rotted manure may be used to improve the soil if it is applied to the soil surface in a 1-to 2-inch layer. Never let fertilizer or manure touch the stems of the plant.

When you work around the plants in the early spring, be careful of the tender emerging shoots. They will usually be dark red.

Remove seed heads after flowering is finished to allow the plant to store more energy for next year’s bloom.

In the fall, after frost, cut back the dead stems of herbaceous peonies down to the soil surface. This is very important if you have had any disease problems. Discard the stems. They should not be used in the compost pile.

NEVER cut back tree peonies. They are shrubs and will not grow back if cut down.

Peonies may be left undisturbed for many years. If you want to divide or move your peonies, do so in late September or October. Carefully lift the clump and wash away the soil to expose the eyes. Using a clean, sharp tool, divide the clump into sections, each with three to five eyes and good roots. Replant immediately.

Most peonies need support to prevent the stems from flopping under the weight of their flowers. Commercial hoops are available for this purpose. You can also use a ring of three or four stakes with loops of tape or plant ties to attach the plants to the stakes for support.

When you cut peonies for the house, pick the flowers in the soft bud stage. They should feel like soft marshmallows. Leave at least 3 leaves per stem on the plant. Recut the stems under warm water and strip off any leaves that would contact water in the vase. The flowers should open within a day of being placed in a vase.