Can you change the moisture holding ability of the soil and/or keep it watered through dry spells?

I grow peonies at the front of borders that are cut into our steep hillside. That keeps the peonies roots driy when they need to be. Roses at the front of the same borders need a lot more organics at their roots.
We've had nine inches of rain this August, so far, so keeping peony roots from rotting is important and for me the roses roots are more forgiving.

Watering is not a problem. I hand water so I can adjust to each plant's needs. Takes about 3 hours, but I prefer doing it that way. I have always believed that peonies harbor certain fungi that are harmful to other plants. One I can think of is Botrytis Blight, a fungal disease, that makes it unwise to put peony clippings in the compost pile (I've heard). I would like to replace a peony that I'm moving with a rose, but unsure if that is wise. The peony is healthy.

flowersaremusic, why is it a "no-no" to use homemade compost? Does it retain too much moisture?My peonies are at least 50yrs old, maybe even 70 and I don't really do anything for them, except give them the occasional wood ash. I planted some new ones with my roses in homemade compost this spring. Did I do something wrong?

I moved a peony and replaced it with a rose. I didn't even change any soil. I added compost with the soil when I planted the rose, just because I do that anytime I plant a new perennial. If the peony is healthy & it's an ideal spot for it; a rose would do well too. They both love the sun!

I agree you could likely do fine planting a rose in a location a peony grew. I think you were correct to think you wanted old peony foliage away from the peony plant so Botrytis Blight wouldn't afflict the peony's new growth. I think roses would be less vulnerable.

Thank you, Sheila, for the reassurance. I need to get this rose in the ground before it's officially fall. Makes sense that Botrytis Blight would only affect peonies. It's definitely not on any list of rose diseases that I've seen.

I've never planted a rose in an ex-peony spot, but I regularly grow peonies close to, even right next to, roses, and have encountered no problems as a result. I clean up the peony spot in the fall for two reasons--because it looks a mess, and because I don't want the old (possibly infected) stems/leaves to infect the new peony growth in the spring. Possibly the rose benefited from that practice, but I never did it because I was afraid the rose would "catch" something.

I'd say that you are worrying excessively. Relax! : )

Kate

Thanks for your reply. Perhaps neither of us were very clear because I meant I planted them in my leaf/wood compost. I'm not sure what I do with my peony leaves, but I guess I won't be putting them in the pile anymore. :) I guess I should read more about peony requirements, I love them so, but only planted new ones this year and one's leaves seem chloritic.

Good advice, dublinbay! I need to hear that once in a while. :) If my newly planted rose in a former peony hole didn't do well, I could just hear all the 'experts' saying "You WHAT!? You can't plant a rose where a peony once lived!" I'm easily intimidated. Vaporvac, the link below is information about peony leaves and stems going in the trash, not the compost pile, although people do it without any problems. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2014/10/23/cut-back-peonies/17802529/ . I don't know much about peonies, but for some reason, that bit of advice stuck with me.