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a few questions on planting peonys

16 years ago

I just bought two bareroot peonies from a local grower. I need a week or so before I can get them in the ground. How should i store them until then? they are now just by themselves in a paper bag.. no soil or anything. Is this ok? or should I put them under the soil temporarily. I paid $24 each, so dont want to kill them.

Secondly, I have limited sunny areas, and wonder if i can plant them near some roses. Would this be a bad idea since roses are fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer, and i understand that's not a good idea for peonies if you want them to flower. I could move my two little rose plants pretty easily, but is it necessary?

thanks

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Comments (7)

tjsangel
16 years ago
Hi,

You risk drying the Peonies out keeping them in a bag. Plant them in pots in good garden soil before you put in the ground. Keep well watered. Dont fertilize now, you'll lose new tender growth over winter. Make sure you dont plant them too deep or they wont flower. I would think the roses and Peonies would make good companions. Good luck!

Jen
ostrich
16 years ago
Dee Dee, thank you for asking this question, as I just planted a couple myself.

Jen, what is too deep please? I have planted them at such a level so that the buds are just showing above the soil. Is that too shallow? Or is it OK? If it's too shallow, I'd better put some more soil around the plants! Thanks in advance.
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dee__dee
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks Jen..I guess I should just hurry and get them in the ground.
Ostrich.. I've been told to plant no more than 1 inch deep, but assumed that meant to cover the buds by one inch.. but i could be wrong. Can someone tell us if the buds should be showing?
goodhors
16 years ago
I would just cover the buds with dirt, maybe sprinkle some fall leaves over the bed. I shred my Oak tree leaves, use them as mulch on my beds. Oak leaves, whole or shredded, break up rainfall, so dirt is not washed away in fall or spring. Oak is the best kind of whole leaves, they don't get soggy over winter like Maple leaves. Shredded are the best, small pieces break down for soil enrichment faster.

I have had Peonies in the past where the buds were peeking at you most of winter, snow and all. They seemed to do fine, bloomed well the next summer. Just seems that if buds are any depth in the dirt, they won't bloom. Get crabby about being too deep. So I keep my Peony roots barely covered with dirt when planting or transplanting.

There is a Peony forum on the Garden Web, if you decide you want to get really into Peonies. I love Peonies myself, have learned a lot about them from the Perennial gardeners here and the Peony gardeners. Went on to the dark side, have invested in Tree Peonies as well!!
greenguy1
16 years ago
I agree with Goodhors, I plant them with the buds barely covered by very loose soil. Actually, I usually grow them in pots the first year so I can coddle them a little, and if the pot is a little too shallow, the entire top of the root with all of the buds on it has been exposed above the soil through the winter. The plants never seem to mind, the buds then form for the next year at the right level relative to the soil level.

- Steve
hostaholic2 z 4, MN
16 years ago
In zone 4 it's recommended to plant them with 1 to 2 inches over soil over the eyes and to mulch the first winter, being sure to pull the mulch back by early to mid March.
ostrich
16 years ago
Thanks everyone for the great information! I am in zone 5/6 and so I think I will cover the eyes of my peonies with some soil and then cover them up with some mulch, which will be removed in March... thanks!

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