You can sink in ground but you can also do the take a couple of straw bales or anything you might have to make a low wall. Put the pots in next to each other and cover with leaves. Borrow your neighbors. I would not put a tarp on top but if you have a critter problem you can use any open weave material or just tree and brush branches to hold the leaves in place. After the first couple of rains the top will stop blowing away. If you have extra money you could cover the whole thing in straw. Go the library or look on line on how pioneers made root or vegetable bins or cellers and you may have a better idea what I am talking about.

btw...can somebody please tell me how to put a picture in with my message? Sure. First you will need to open a Photobucket (Free) account. Secondly, upload your pic there. then.... 1...just type your message,...or in this case a reply to this post, changing the Subject of Posting line by one character. 2...open Photobucket in another tab 3...find the pic you want to post in the message, 4...click on HTML code found in the third box below the pic. It will say copied in yellow, 5...go back and paste the HTML in your message box, 6...hit preview, You will then see your message, and the actual pic, and 7... lastly hit submit. Stop on over to the Test Forum Gallery. We have ongoing pic posting lessons there continuously. You can add to this thread, or start your own. There are regulars there that can/will readily help you. Stunning pic Caroline. Thanks for sharing! Sue

If you just divided it up, it probably won't bloom, and it is better off for it not to bloom the first year because it hasn't become established yet after the division. Itoh peonies seem to be the easiest to divide as they are similar to potatoes in that any piece of tuber can grow new eyes, develop roots, and become a new division as long as it has enough energy.

Early spring, or Fall. I've always divided in Fall before the first freeze, although this year that may be hard to predict. If you miss getting it done this fall, you can do it early spring. Have you ever divided them before? If not, make sure to leave the eyes above dirt level a little bit. Emma