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Many summer residents do not classify peonies as elite plants. But it is grown with pleasure because of the lush flowers with an attractive color.
Florists know that the most attention should be paid to peonies in the fall in order to get luxurious bloom next year. An activity that cannot be neglected is pruning peonies in the fall.
It enables the flower to:
- rest after intense flowering;
- recover before the onset of the winter cold;
- accumulate enough moisture for future shoots.
The importance of autumn pruning is great, so it must be done correctly. The main parameters on which the attention of flower growers is directed - when and how to cut peonies in the fall.
Inexperienced gardeners doubt the need for pruning a flower in the fall. They cut off the heads with wilted flowers immediately after the end of the flowering of the bush.
In this case, the next year they get a lush green bush with luxurious foliage, but not flowers. This is because the plant does not have enough time to bud for the next flowering. The second reason is the lack of nutrients for tuber growth.
Dates of autumn pruning of peonies
First of all, gardeners need to wait for the flowers to bloom on the peonies. They may simply fade or fall off. Now the bush directs all its forces towards the formation of flower buds for the next year and the growth of the bulb. You should not transfer pruning to the spring, it is optimal to prune the bushes in the fall. But when should it be carried out in the fall to help the plant as much as possible?
The beginning of autumn is not the best period. At this time, pruning will weaken the bush, which will negatively affect the flowering of the peony next year. Photosynthesis processes will be disrupted, and the roots will not receive the necessary nutrients. Yes, and in the winter cold, a weakened plant can respond with a decrease in flowering mass. Although peonies are considered cold-hardy and grow quietly in one place for more than 10 years.
Late autumn with the first frosts is considered the most suitable period. Usually this time falls at the end of October or the beginning of November. The pruning period varies depending on the climatic characteristics of the region in which the flower is grown. Now the flower is ready for the dormant period, in other words, the development process in the season is over.
Some growers intuitively determine when to cut ahead of schedule. The exceptions are:
- early drying of peonies;
- the presence of diseases.
In other cases, do not hesitate, but carry out the autumn flower pruning within the recommended time frame.
Autumn flower pruning technology
To confidently start pruning, consider all the nuances of autumn peony care.
When the time for the procedure has already been determined, it is necessary to pay attention to the rules that should be strictly adhered to.
You need to remove the aerial part of the plant, carefully cutting off the leaves and stems with a sharp tool.
It is even slightly buried in the ground to remove the necessary parts. The exception is the stems above the growth buds, they can be left. The length of such stalks should not exceed 4-5 cm. Although you can determine for them another, convenient length for you.
After the pruning procedure, you need to collect plant residues, take out of the garden and burn.
Peat and humus are excellent materials for sheltering flowers in the fall. They will not only protect the peonies from freezing, but also additionally warm the plants.
Experienced flower growers sprinkle the soil and cut areas with wood ash.It simultaneously disinfects and nourishes future luxurious flowers at the moment when the autumn pruning is already completed.
Caring for bushes after pruning
Be sure to check the moisture content of the soil at the cut points. If it is dry, it is required to water and feed the bushes. For autumn nutrition of peonies, bone meal, wood ash, ready-made mineral compositions are used.
Despite the fact that the pruning procedure itself is not considered difficult, some summer residents still manage to make mistakes:
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Begin to prune peonies immediately after flowering. This happens at the end of the summer. The plant manages to release new shoots, spending a lot of energy on their growth. At the first frost, they die, and the bush now has insufficient nutrition for the development of the bulb. Therefore, flowering next summer will be either completely scanty, or you, in general, will not wait for beautiful inflorescences.
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Still flowering inflorescences are cut off. This happens when peony bushes are part of design projects on the territory of the summer cottage. In a bouquet, peonies look very luxurious, but the number of inflorescences for the next year will significantly decrease.
- They are late with the autumn pruning of peonies. The plant does not have time to update the root system, which can simply rot.
As soon as the autumn pruning of plants is completed, watering and feeding have been carried out, it is necessary to cover the peonies for wintering. It is also an important procedure for keeping flowers for the next season.
It is of particular importance for those varieties that are grown in a region with frosty, snowless winters. How to properly cover peonies for the winter?
First, estimate the depth of the growth points. If the value does not exceed 4-6 cm, then it is necessary to sprinkle the stems with soil. A layer of covering material is placed on top:
- fallen leaves;
- spruce branches;
- compost;
- peat.
The thickness of the shelter should not be less than 10-15 cm. In this case, after pruning, your peonies will receive reliable protection from frost and piercing wind.
Even novice growers can carry out autumn pruning. And experienced summer residents themselves assess the condition of the plants and choose the timing for pruning, taking into account all conditions.
