The peonies season starts as soon as the last chills of winter give way to the warmth of spring. Peonies bloom from mid-spring to early summer in the garden. But in the florist’s shop, they sublimate the bouquets as early as March. During the blooming season, they offer an incredible show, the flowers can triple in volume. Find out more about the peonies’ season and how to care for them in your garden!
The peony’s blooming period
The peony or peonies is a spring flower. But it is important to know that the time of flowering differs according to the species. And this difference is clearly marked between the two big families of peonies: the herbaceous peonies and the shrubby peonies.
The tree peony or Paeonia suffruticosa is a woody perennial plant with the appearance of a small shrub. The beginning of its bloom takes place early in spring, between April and May.
The herbaceous peony is the most common in florists and gardens. And the most popular of all is without a doubt the Chinese peony or Paeonia lactiflora. The flowering time is from late spring to early summer.
The blooming of the peony is a moment of great beauty, the flowers blooming slowly revealing their perfume. Depending on the variety, the flowers can measure between 10 and 25 cm in diameter.
Similar to large generous balls, the single or double flowers are revealed in shades of white, red, pink, and sometimes yellow.
The period following the flowering is a key moment for the maintenance of peonies.
The best time of the year to fertilize your peonies
Fertilization of peonies is important to allow the plant to produce its large flowers every year. Apply fertilizer in autumn and again in early spring.
In the fall, you can place an organic fertilizer such as bone meal or well-decomposed compost at the foot of your peonies. To incorporate the fertilizer into the soil, scratch the surface 2-3 centimeters deep with a garden tool like a claw.
In spring, don’t hesitate to give them fertilizer for flowering plants to dilute in the watering. The blooming will be even more beautiful.
However, I advise you to avoid fertilizers very rich in nitrogen which are not at all suitable for peonies.
The pruning period of the peony after the peonies season
If the pruning of the herbaceous peony requires your intervention, the shrubby peony does not necessarily need to be pruned.
For the herbaceous peony, prune in autumn once the foliage is completely yellowed. Take pruning shears and cut the stems at 5-10 cm from the ground. Take advantage of this opportunity to add compost or any other organic fertilizer. You can then cover the base of the plant with dead leaves to protect it from the cold during winter.
For the tree peony, you can prune at the end of winter every 2-3 years the dead branches or those that are badly placed. Use sharp and disinfected pruning shears to avoid any risk of disease transmission.
The cutting period of peonies
Cutting peonies is reserved for botanists, but in the garden, you can use the propagation by division of the clump. This technique is easy to master as long as you proceed with care not to damage the roots.
Start by taking your herbaceous peony plant out of the ground in autumn or early spring. Then, cut the root ball with a clean sharp tool.
Depending on the size of the root ball, you can divide it into several parts. Each part should have at least 5 roots.
Replant in loose, well-drained soil and finish with generous watering.
The beautiful season of peonies at the florists!
The season of white peonies starts at the end of winter and lasts all summer long. Thus, white peonies sublimate flower bouquets, including wedding bouquets, but also bouquets for Mother’s Day or Grandmother’s Day.
Colored peonies are also available most of the year. And because peonies have so many meanings, they are very popular in floral arrangements.
