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Mowed over tree peony :(

8 years ago

I have a tree peony that finally bloomed after 6, yes 6, years. Two of the most beautiful dark purple (no red) blooms. And, of course my son mowed it down with the lawn mower thinking it was a weed as it sits at the edge of a flower bed. It was supposedly own root. Will this come back up this year? What should I look for?

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Comments (5)

AlexUnder
8 years ago
Sorry to hear it. Sometimes the upper part of TP dies because of winter freeze and new shoots come out. Try to protect the place where it used to be with a small fence or tomato ring. It may come back if it has developed root system, but certainly on much smaller scale.
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wildflower3 thanked AlexUnder
Embothrium
8 years ago
Put something substantial around it or move it to a better spot.
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wildflower3 thanked Embothrium
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It just about breaks your heart, doesn't it. I've had that happen to me by the subdivision grounds crew. Mine happened midway through the year and it didn't grow back that summer, but the following year it was doing fine. This early in the season, yours might try to grow a few shoots, but I wouldn't expect much from them. Next year, it will probably grow back just fine. This weekend, a new shoot from the ground on my tree peony somehow got broken. I think it was either a dog or rabbit or kid...but it hurt to see the damage done.
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if the roots are still there, they will be back. but, after all this time, that might be doubtful. my parents moved into my uncle's home years ago. every spring, after they bloomed, my dad would mow down my aunt's peonies. they would come back bigger & better the next year. of course he always waited till after bloom. if he had did it before, I'm sure there would have been quite an argument between my parents. since peonies were always one of mom's favorites. which reminds me, I should go past the house one of these days to see if they are still there. that house has been sold 3 times since then. in a week or 2 go take a good look at the ground where you think the peony is, & see if you see any shoots coming up. as long as the root is there, they will be back. good luck.
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Never had any issues despite -15 to -20(F) every winter. Mine are unprotected. The largest is now 4'x5'. I always get a bit worried b/c they break bud very early in spring but the emerging foliage has been ok to 20F. Tree peonies with P. lutea (yellow shades) are a comfortable zone 5b. Most of the others with P. suffruticosa are comfortable to 5a or 4b.
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PRO
Of the Woods Hydrangea and Peony Farm
8 years ago
I'm so sorry to hear your tree peony was mowed down. It depends on how much of the stalk remains. If it is a few inches you may see buds. You may also only see growth from below the graft. You may see a garden peony type growth instead of a tree type if the plant was cut off below the graft. Keep a watchful eye on it in Spring.
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lizbest1
8 years ago
Since you tree peony was in place for 6 years I think there's a very good chance your tree peony will survive, that you'll get tree peony growth from the ground this spring. Hopefully the nurse root is completely gone by now but if you see growth with 2 different leaves you'll want to pinch out the herbaceous ones. Once established tree peonies are very resilient, think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
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wildflower3 thanked lizbest1
enith
8 years ago
Older tree peonies will have their own root and these usually send new stalks every year. Try gently uncover the crown of your peony and look for new red buds. These will be new stalks. You probably won't see any flowers this year but if the crown didn't get damaged by that mower your plant should recover and bloom again soon. Think of some way of protecting it from having it mowed again.
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wildflower3 thanked enith

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