Planting peonies in the open ground in spring: terms, rules, tips, step-by-step instructions

Planting peonies in the spring raises different opinions. To some novice gardeners, it does not seem entirely acceptable to the culture. They believe that during the period of active growth of the aerial part, the roots can quickly deplete. As a result, the plant's immunity will be weakened, which will lead to poor development of the peony and a long absence of flowering. Experienced florists say the opposite. Timely and correctly carried out spring planting of a peony is very beneficial.

Only a properly planted plant will delight you with lush flowering in due time

Is it possible to plant peonies in spring

A similar question worries all lovers of peonies. Given the climatic conditions on the territory of the Russian Federation, experienced gardeners are inclined to planting or replanting bushes in autumn. However, in spring, the adventitious roots of peonies grow back as intensively as in autumn. Therefore, spring planting is also advisable. Especially if the plant has already been purchased, or it urgently needs to be transplanted. It is important to comply with the basic requirements of culture, agrotechnical recommendations and take into account weather conditions. If hot weather begins immediately in spring, then the bushes will need intensive care.

When is it better to plant peonies: in spring or autumn

Knowledge of the biological characteristics of culture will help to resolve this issue. During the growing season, the peony has two periods in which the growth of the suction roots occurs. These periods are considered equivalent for landing events. In the spring, planting should be carried out before the onset of stable warming (April-May). This will enable the division to take root before the first shoots regrow. In the fall, it is recommended to plant peonies in August or September so that rooting takes place before the frost begins. The root system, already strengthened at this time, tolerates any interventions more easily.

After planting in spring, peonies take root a little harder, bloom later and are not as luxurious. But this period also has its advantages:

  • the suction roots also grow back intensively;
  • compliance with all planting rules guarantees a good survival rate of the bush;
  • it is not required to wait for the onset of autumn to plant already acquired planting material.

Considering all the pros and cons, gardeners can plant peonies at a time when it is convenient for them.

Difficulties of planting a peony in the spring in open ground

When planting a peony in open ground in spring, gardeners may encounter some difficulties:

  1. Weather. In cool weather, the ground thaws for a long time. If the time has come to plant the cuttings, and the soil is frozen, then this creates additional difficulties.
  2. Any careless movement of the grower leads to damage to the stems or buds. The plant may die if the damage is significant.
  3. Lagging roots in growth compared to the aerial part. This leads to depletion of the roots and oppression of the young plant.

To avoid such difficulties, you need to accurately fulfill all the conditions and plant peonies correctly in the spring.

When the peonies planted in spring will bloom

Do not wait for flowering in the first year after planting. This also applies to peonies planted in the fall.

Important! Even the buds that have appeared in the first year of the peony's life must be removed.

Flowering usually begins 2 years after planting, some varieties bloom after 3 years. This should be clarified immediately when buying varietal divisions. In the second season, you need to leave 1 bud, then cut it off shortly after opening and check the compliance with the varietal parameters. If there are differences, then the procedure with one bud will have to be repeated until the moment when the match is complete. This can happen in 4-5 years.

When planting a seedling at the age of 3-4 years, flowering will occur the next season.

The quality of flowering depends on varietal characteristics and proper care after planting.

Rules for choosing planting material

The rate of development of the bush, its health, the duration and brightness of flowering directly depend on the quality of the cuttings. If the planting material is purchased in a store, then first of all you need to carefully read the information on the package.

Careful reading of the description will help you choose the right variety for the site.

A decent and self-respecting manufacturer will definitely inform you:

  • full variety name;
  • a list of the main characteristics and description of the culture;
  • the amount of planting material in the package;
  • a mark that the item has passed quality control;
  • instructions for the main stages of planting.

In addition to familiarizing yourself with the planting material in the form of a description, a visual inspection should be carried out. Peonies are sold in plastic bags, so it's easy to consider the deal. It must have at least 2 adventitious roots 5 cm or more long and 2-3 renewal buds. It is important that there is no damage, traces of rot or other diseases.

The presence of mold and rot is an important reason to refuse a purchase.

In order not to purchase a low-quality product, you must immediately postpone the package if:

  1. A rotten or mildew smell is heard from the packaging. Such planting material is not suitable.
  2. Thickening or growths are visible on the rhizome. These signs may indicate cancer infection or root nematode infection.
  3. When feeling the planting material is too dry or wet.

If the listed disadvantages are absent, but there are only 1 or 2 kidneys on the share, then you should not give it up. After planting, such a peony will bloom later in the spring and will grow slower, but in an adult state it will delight you with lush flowering.

How to save peonies before planting in spring

It is not always possible to acquire peonies just in time for planting. Therefore, many gardeners have to save them until the right time. There are several options to guarantee the safety of peonies:

  1. If the buds have not begun to grow, then it is enough to place them in a bag, sprinkle them with sphagnum or vermiculite, and put them in the refrigerator.
  2. When the growth of buds has been outlined, then the peony should be planted in a flower pot with a volume of 2-3 liters. Be sure to lay a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, and take a light and nutritious substrate. Place the container in a cool place (+ 4-6 ° C) so as not to stimulate the growing season. In the spring, dig in on the site along with the pot, in the fall, plant it in a permanent place in the open ground.

You can not drop in, but immediately plant the peony in the spring in open ground. This option is more risky, but possible. For those who decide to plant a peony in the fall, you need to move the pot to the room and care for it before planting, like a indoor flower. This option is suitable if there is no basement or cellar.

The plant needs:

  • good lighting, can be backlit;
  • dusting the soil with wood ash to prevent rot;
  • stacking ice cubes to keep the temperature cool;
  • weekly inspection.
Important! It is not worth growing a peony in a room for more than a year, the rhizome will not have enough space.

How to plant peonies in spring

The event must take place with strict adherence to the basic rules. These are well-chosen and prepared:

  • term;
  • a place;
  • the soil;
  • planting material

And, of course, the correct fit.

When to plant peonies in open ground in spring

The timing of planting a peony is very important. It is necessary to fulfill one condition - to give the chance to the division to take root before the first shoots appear. Therefore, the optimal period is April, when stable warming has not yet begun. The plant will have enough time to take root. It is convenient to use the recommendations of the lunar calendar, but taking into account the corrections for the weather conditions of a particular region.

Before the selected date, the planting material must be examined and prepared:

  1. Remove any traces of rot or damaged areas.
  2. Disinfect the peony rhizome in a solution of potassium permanganate or Maxim (20 minutes).
  3. Treat the cuts with wood ash.

Then process the future peony in a Heteroauxin solution and leave for a day. As a result, it is possible to plant peonies in open ground in the spring.

After the correct execution of all stages, the division will quickly grow in spring.

Where to plant peonies in spring

At this stage, you need to determine the location and select or prepare the soil. The splendor and beauty of the peony flowering directly depends on these parameters. Culture has the following requirements:

  1. A place with good sunlight throughout the day. The shade of peonies is contraindicated, the bush may completely refuse to bloom or form a few inflorescences. Slight shading at noon is acceptable.
  2. Draft and cold wind protection, but no stagnant air.
  3. The distance from buildings or fences is at least 1.5 m. Keep the same gap between neighboring peony bushes.
  4. Avoid low-lying areas where plant rhizomes can rot. The permissible level of groundwater is at least 1 m. Otherwise, drainage or raise the flower bed.

Peonies prefer soil with slightly alkaline or neutral acidity. The soil is fertile, light, drained. Cultivated loam is ideal.

Rules and methods of planting peonies in spring

There are several options that gardeners can take advantage of in spring. Depending on the weather, peonies can be planted in containers (pots) or directly into the open ground. Optimal breeding methods, any of which are used for spring planting:

  1. Dividing a bush is the most common.
  2. Bush pruning (often used).
  3. Root cuttings with a growth bud. Convenient if you need a large number of divisions.
  4. Layers - only with an early onset of heat.

Most often, gardeners opt for dividing the bush and planting root cuttings.

Planting peonies very early in spring

Gardeners may face such a situation when weather conditions do not allow planting peonies, and the state of the planting material requires it. For example, the rhizome is already with long shoots, and the division has begun to grow. The landing rules are the same as for the usual dates. You should not pay attention to the possibility of recurrent frosts and snowfall. There are two options for the procedure:

  1. Plant in thawed soil (without heating) to a depth of 3-5 cm. If the cut has sprouted, then measure the required distance (3-5 cm) from the base of the sprout and cover it with soil, and leave the rest of the sprouts on the surface. Build a shelter or mini-greenhouse to preserve tender sprouts.

    Some of the sprouts that are longer than 5 cm cannot be buried in the ground.

  2. Dig in a piece of peony in a temporary place, and plant it in the fall.
    Then early spring landing will not be problematic.

How to plant purchased peonies in spring in a container

Many gardeners believe that planting in a container has many benefits. You will need a pot with a volume of at least 5-10 liters and careful adherence to the sequence of actions:

  1. Place drainage on the bottom.
  2. Fill the container with nutrient mixture (black soil + humus + peat) in equal proportions.
  3. Plant the cut so that the highest point of renewal is deepened 2-3 cm from the soil surface.
  4. Very carefully compact the soil and water.
  5. Place in basement for rooting.

As soon as the active growth of the stem begins, the plant has taken root. Bring the container out into the light when the stem height reaches 5-7 cm.

Important! The plant can be grown in a container for no more than 1-3 years.

The root system requires a pot transplant after 2-3 years

Features of planting a peony out of the box in spring

You can plant peonies bought in a box in the spring. If purchased in advance, then place the purchase in the refrigerator. So the growth of shoots will stop, and suction roots will appear on the rhizome. Before planting, take out the cut and clean it of peat. Soak in a disinfectant solution. This is the most important and crucial moment. In any damaged place, pathogenic microflora can settle on the roots, which will lead to the death of the plant.

Planting a peony with sprouts in spring

The quality of peony flowering depends on the correctness of the event. Step by step how to plant peonies in spring:

  1. Prepare a planting pit with dimensions of 60 cm x 60 cm.When planting several seedlings, leave a distance of 1.5 m between them. When digging, separate the top soil layer from the lower one, for example, spread it out on opposite sides of the pit.
  2. Pour a layer of drainage - expanded clay, river sand, broken brick.
  3. Lay the top layer of soil on top, then humus, 1 glass of ash, 80 g each of potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Top up the soil so that the soil surface is 25 cm.
  4. Install the divider, straighten the roots, planting depth 5 cm.
  5. Cover with soil, gently compact, sprinkle with water.
  6. Mulch with humus.

It is very important to maintain the recommended planting depth.

The basic rule of landing is to maintain the depth correctly

Terms and rules for planting peonies in the summer in the ground

You can plant rhizomes in open ground from April to the end of September. But, the optimal summer period is August. For summer, the method of dividing the bush is most suitable. It is recommended to dig a hole in advance so that the earth subsides. The rest of the planting rules do not differ from the spring event.

How to plant a peony in the summer

Before planting, determine the location and prepare a hole 70 cm deep and 60 cm in diameter.

Lay a layer of drainage and fertile soil.

Water the peony bush well, dig up and divide.

Set roots on a hill of earth, sprinkle with soil, compact and water.

In the summer, you will have to shade the plant a little so that the scorching sun does not destroy the seedling.

Caring for peonies after planting

The first year after spring planting is a very important period for peonies.

Watering is regular (every other day) for a month, then according to weather conditions and soil conditions. Avoid stagnant water or dry soil. An adult peony needs at least 20 liters of water.

You need to loosen the next day after watering, but very carefully. It is also important to weed the weeds so that the roots have enough moisture and nutrients.

In the period from early May to mid-June, carry out the first fertilizing with mineral complex fertilizer + ammonium nitrate around the root. In the first year, foliar spraying is considered more effective. As soon as the shoots begin to grow, prepare a solution of 5 liters of water and 30 g of urea. After 3 weeks, add 1 tablet with microelements to the same composition. For the third time in 2 weeks, prepare a composition with 2 tablets.

Spud a young bush in October, cover it with a layer of spruce branches on top.

Some gardeners argue that food is not needed for the first two years. If the roots have not grown to the fertile layer of the planting pit, then foliar feeding will allow the peony to grow stronger.

Conclusion

Planting peonies in the spring helps gardeners in many cases. It is only important to follow the basic recommendations, take into account the weather conditions and choose the landing option.

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