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In spring, bright, large peony buds are among the first to bloom, filling the air with a wonderful aroma. To provide them with abundant flowering every year, it is necessary to transplant peonies in the fall to another place on time.
There are two ways to propagate these flowers - by seed and by dividing the root. Gardeners consider the second method to be more optimal. If the time and place for replanting is chosen correctly, the plants will bloom beautifully in the new place. For seven years, they can not be transplanted.
Seat selection
When choosing a place for transplanting a peony, you need to pay attention to some points:
- peonies feel more comfortable in illuminated areas, so you need to allocate an open place for the bushes, but protected from the wind;
- walls heated by the sun have a detrimental effect on flowers, so their transplant in autumn must be produced no closer than two meters from the house;
- the site for replanting bushes should be in an elevated place with light shade so that the transplanted bushes do not wither from the heat and, at the same time, receive sufficient lighting.
Peonies are rather unpretentious to the composition of the soil - they survive in both sandy and clay soils. But although the sand accelerates the flowering of the bushes, they fall off faster, and the high content of clay in the ground delays flowering. Therefore, it is better to monitor their optimal ratio. Peonies grow best on loamy soils.
Hole preparation
Pits for planting peonies should be prepared two to three weeks before planting:
- the more spacious they are, the more powerful the root system will become;
- leave a distance of about a meter between the bushes for fresh air circulation;
- the root of the plant should fit freely in the hole;
- as a drainage, the bottom can be laid out with a layer of pebbles or broken bricks mixed with cut twigs, and covered with the prepared earthen mixture;
- you need to ensure good watering of the hole so that the soil settles enough;
- introduce a little nitrogen and phosphorus compounds into the hole - they are enough to feed the transplanted peonies in the first years after transplantation.
Transplant timing
Many people doubt when to transplant peonies, in spring or autumn. Choosing the right timing is of great importance, since both seasons are suitable for replanting them.
- Some beginners consider it possible to transplant flowers in the summer, after flowering, but in this case they take root much more difficult and may not bloom for a year or two. Often, the roots of a plant dug out in summer die from sunburn or are damaged.
- With a spring transplant, the bushes will not bloom in the current season either, since they will need adaptation in a new place. If there is a need for a spring transplant, it is better to do it in early spring, before the vegetation process of the plant begins. The spring transplant should be carried out immediately after the snow melts, and the division and pruning of the root in the spring cannot be done - after all, the bushes are already stressed, and they still have to take root in another place.
- The most suitable period when it is better to transplant peonies is the end of summer - beginning of autumn. At this time, the heat subsides, and moderate watering will ensure the rapid development of the root system. A strong root will give the transplanted shrub good nutrition. But the main advantage of the autumn peony transplant is that at this time, thin young roots have already formed, with the help of which nutrients are absorbed.
Peony transplant
After the place is prepared and the earth settles well, it is important to transplant the peonies correctly. For work, it is better to choose a dry, but not hot day without the sun.
- Before the autumn transplanting, it is necessary to prune the bush to a height of 20 cm. Then very carefully dig out the peony bush, prying it with a pitchfork. Do not dig too close to the trunk, otherwise roots and young shoots can be damaged.
- From the dug out bush, you need to carefully, with your hands, remove clods of earth, but you must not shake it and even more so hit it on anything. The video shows the process of dividing the root system of a peony:
- Carefully examine the roots, remove damaged or rotten ones and treat the roots with a solution of potassium permanganate.
- If you hold the bush in the shade for 2-3 hours before planting, then the roots will acquire greater elasticity and will no longer be too fragile.
- If the bush is simply transplanted, you need to carefully transfer it to the hole, spread the roots, cover it with earth and lightly tamp it.
Reproduction of a peony in autumn
How to transplant peonies if the root system has already grown well and needs to be divided? To do this, you need to use a previously disinfected sharp pruner or knife. Roots are subject to division, on which there are at least six buds. The slightly dried root is cut in such a way that three buds remain on each part. After dividing, each part should be dipped in a disinfecting solution or smeared with ash.
When transplanting the prepared material into the holes, the root should not be buried - a depth of up to 9 centimeters is enough. The buds need to be left on the surface, and then sprinkle them on top with fertile soil 5-6 centimeters high. The transplanted peony bush must be well watered. Before the onset of frost, another 2-3 watering is required. But too much watering should not be allowed - the roots can rot. You can mulch the bush for the winter with foliage and cover it with cardboard.
The video shows the process of correctly transplanting peonies:
After transplant
Experienced gardeners advise pruning flowers that appear in the first year after an autumn transplant. This will allow the plant to grow stronger faster and give abundant flowering next year.
If the peony bush has stopped blooming after transplanting, the following reasons are possible:
- there is a lack of sunlight in the new place;
- if the groundwater comes close to the soil surface, and there is no drainage, the roots of the peony can rot;
- perhaps the plant was transplanted too deep, which delayed its flowering;
- if during reproduction the root was divided into too small parts, you will have to wait several years until it gains strength for flowering;
- frequent transplanting of bushes weakens them, therefore, it is recommended to transplant no more than once every 5-7 years;
- perhaps the peonies do not have enough nutrition and should be fed.
Autumn pruning of peonies
Novice gardeners usually make the mistake of pruning peony bushes as soon as they finish flowering. During this period, the bushes should not be touched, because buds are laid in them, which will ensure flowering in the next season. Pruning should be carried out in the fall, when preparing the bush for wintering, and two weeks after the end of flowering, it is better to feed the peony with phosphorus and potassium compounds.
Correct pruning requires adherence to the following guidelines:
the optimal timing for autumn pruning is the last week of October or the very beginning of November, depending on the region;
- earlier pruning will greatly weaken the plants and may even cause their death;
- the bush is cut off completely, at the level of the ground surface;
- if there is no rain during this period, watering should be carried out around the bush;
- trimming twigs or leaves left at the site of the procedure will begin to rot and cause infection and subsequent diseases of the peony, so they should be collected and destroyed immediately;
- after pruning, you can feed the plant with wood ash.
Peonies are unpretentious.If you follow the proposed recommendations, then every year lush beautiful buds will flaunt on the flower beds.
