Peonies do not need a lot of fertilizing. Roots are planted with just an inch or two of soil over the eyes (buds). Peony plants are low-maintenance and don’t require any fussy care once established. Experienced gardeners advise in the fall to feed peonies in the period from mid-September to the second decade of October. Even so, many gardeners do like to give them a bit of a bloom boost with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the springtime. If peonies are planted in spring, they may not bloom for the first few years. Fertilizing peonies is an easy an enjoyable spring task in the perennial flower garden. You could also add bone meal in the fall. Peonies should be planted in the fall, ideally from late September to October. Peonies need a period of cold to set buds for the following season. When herbaceous peonies die back in fall, clean up the foliage to reduce the chance of a disease. Fertilize in early spring. Healthy foliage will turn golden in fall—that's your sign to prune! If you must move a mature plant, fall is the time to do it—specifically, when the plant has gone dormant. Along with the fact that their foliage is prone to mildew, that is reason enough to cut them back in the fall. If you don't want to use your refrigerator, you can place the peonies in an unheated garage instead. Infected foliage can be removed in late summer. USDA growing zones: 2 to 9 Plant bare root peonies in the fall - prime peony planting season. Potted peonies may be transplanted in the fall or spring. Once you take care of that, maintaining healthy plants depends on the basics: watering and fertilizing peonies. Care for tree and Itoh peonies is similar, but you do not cut back tree peonies. Peonies should be settled into place about six weeks before the ground freezes. Less frequent chores, like deadheading peonies after flowering and cutting back peonies in fall are not demanding tasks but play a key role in keeping this perennial productive. Peonies establish a vigorous root system the first two years after planting. Peony Plant Care Peonies require at least 10 hours of sunshine every day. Plant peonies in the fall: in late September and October in most of the U.S., and even later in the fall in Zones 7 and 8. After bloom time, add a bit of fertilizer around the plant. But taking into account the peculiarities of this or that region, it is necessary to take into account one more important factor when determining the optimal timing for feeding pions - the approaching frosts. Peonies are hardy and can survive cold winters, but they need help to be prepared for their dormant period. In warmer areas of the South, they should be planted even later. The foliage needs to be removed so they don’t spread disease, their stems need to be cut back to encourage next years growth, and they also need to be fed to stay healthy. Deadhead the spent flowers after bloom. (Find your planting zone here.) 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