Getting the Most Out of Your Peonies: 5 Things You Should Know
Getting the Most Out of Your Peonies: 5 Things You Should Know
Peonies are easily the best part of the spring garden. They’re massive, they smell amazing, and they look like giant pillows of color. But if you’ve ever planted a peony that refused to bloom, or had a beautiful bunch drop all its petals after two days in a vase, you know they can be a little dramatic.
Whether you're trying to grow your own or just cutting a fresh bouquet at a local farm, here is what you actually need to know to keep them happy.
1. Watch your planting depth (Seriously)
If you plant a peony root too deep, it’ll give you plenty of beautiful green leaves, but zero flowers. The root clumps have these little pinkish buds on them called "eyes." When you drop them in the ground, make sure those eyes are only covered by about an inch or two of soil max. If you bury them any deeper than that, you're just growing a nice green bush.
2. They are total sun worshippers
Peonies aren't the type of plant you can tuck away in a shady corner. They need at least 6 to 8 hours of direct, baking sunlight every single day to get the energy they need to pop those massive flowers. Also, make sure the dirt drains well. They absolutely hate sitting in soggy, wet mud and will rot if the water pools up around them.
3. Stake them before they bloom
We've all seen it happen: a heavy spring thunderstorm rolls through right when the peonies look perfect, and the next morning they're all face-down in the dirt. Because the flower heads get so heavy, you need to get a support cage or grid over the plant early in the spring when the green shoots are still short. The plant will grow right up through it, hide the metal completely, and actually stay upright when it rains.
4. Just leave the ants alone
If you see ants crawling all over the tightly closed buds, don't spray them. The buds naturally sweat out a sweet, sugary nectar that ants love. In exchange for the snack, the ants act like little bodyguards and keep other destructive pests away. They won't hurt the flower at all, and they’ll clear out on their own once the blooms open. If you’re cutting them for the house, just give the stems a good shake outside first.
5. Cut them at the "marshmallow" stage
If you're picking peonies for a vase, timing is everything. Cut them when they're still hard green balls, and they'll never open. Cut them when they're wide open, and they'll drop their petals in 24 hours. Instead, look for buds that are showing full color and feel soft and squishy when you squeeze them—just like a marshmallow. Stems cut at this stage will open perfectly on your kitchen table and last for a full week.