Digging up a peony now to replace with bare root just arrived?
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
6 years ago
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linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
6 years agoRelated Discussions
How to 'bare root' daylilies, iris and peonys
Comments (9)Sorry to disagree....but if you dig peonys out of the ground and "bare root" them for a couple of weeks, when they are activly growing....you will be lucky to have them live, let alone bloom in 2 years. Iris are tough guys, they probably would be OK and one or 2 of the rhizomes might put up a bloom stalk. The rhizomes of the daylilys would probably shrivel up and die of left bare root for 2 or 3 weeks during the time when they are activly growing. If you really must dig during August ( and if you are going to wait 2 or 3 weeks to plant, you really should get them in the ground in time to re establish before winter sets in..should plant by Sept 15th or maybe just a little later at the outside) dig the plants with as much soil around their roots as you can manage and put then in either pots, or a sand box as you say but fill it with top soil or sphagnum moss which you have gotten really damp before you put them there....or shredded wood mulch or bark or wood chips....something that will hold moisture. This is the time of the year when plants are activly storing energy/carbohydrates in their roots to survive the winter and to put out growth next spring. Plants make energy through their leaves and sunlight ( photosynthesis....remember that from 9th grade?) and when you interrupt this process by cutting off the leaves or digging them up so they can't send water to the leaves and keep them green, you impair their abilty to survive the winter. If the reason you are digging them is to amend the soil in the bed....you would be a lot better off just amending with the plants in place....do a sheet compost....or lots of top dressing for several springs. The worms will take the nutrients where you need it. Linda C...See MoreMy David Austin bare roots arrived today & I am very disappointed
Comments (36)Nik, I know that Americans farther South than my zone 6a do plant in the Fall but I have had no personal experience with warmer zones. However, from my zone North (and that's a lot of territory), Fall planting is not a viable option. In August it is too hot to plant, getting in the high 80s and then the first frosts come about the first or second week in October. Four to five weeks is not enough time for the roses to get established and prepare for the hard frosts soon to come. Our last frost date is May 15, so that is about 7 months. Usually we have snow cover then it melts, then more snow cover and on and on through the winter. This is especially bad because repeated freezing and thawing cycles heave plants out of the ground. A constant snow cover, which we do not have, would prevent that and in addition would be protective insulation, keeping the plants near 32 F instead of the -10F air temperatures normal for this zone. It may be difficult for most Europeans to sense the degree and duration of cold that we experience, Scandinavian countries and Scotland excepted. When I read English gardening books that say a plant is cold hardy, I have to remember they mean that it will survive in a zone much warmer than mine. Most of England is zone 8! Compare the Hardiness Zone maps on Garden Web of Europe versus The United States. The color of the zones give a more intuitive feel for the difference in climate. Cath...See MoreBuy potted now or order bare root for fall planting?
Comments (8)Are you talking about 3 gal potted plant or quart size potted plant? If it is a 3 galon, then your plant will most likely be bigger than the bareroot. You can buy it now, dig a hole big enough for the pot, and place the plant and pot in the hole. By fall, you can remove the plant from pot and plant it wherever you want. In fact if you are so inclined, you can divide it into halves or threes and you will get 2 - 3 nice size divisions from the plant without hurting the plant at all....See MoreMoving with bare root peonies - help!
Comments (4)We sold our last house 6 months before we took possession of our current house, were in a rental for 6 months while building. I only brought 1 peony with me, the ground was still pretty frozen when I dug and divided it in March at our old place. It survived the rest of our crazy Denver winter/spring and the summer in a 3 gallon black plastic pot, didn't even water it very regularly, and I planted it at our new place in October when we moved in. It's been divided since and has survived the treatment with no complaints. Just make sure you put it in a pot big enough so the roots have room to grow--if the roots fit in a 1 gallon container plant it in a 3 gallon one. If you're moving to a cold zone I'd protect the pots with mulch, even dig them into the ground if that's possible. If not, a bale of straw is typically less than $10 and would probably protect several pots. Protect the pots with some shade in the summer so they don't bake if you're moving to a warm zone. Whether you plant your peonies in their permanent location in the spring or fall is pretty much personal preference. I do absolutely believe you get better success dividing peonies in the fall but you'll be basically planting a potted plant--disturb the roots as little as possible and plant them when it's most convenient. Just make sure the eyes are at a good level for your zone and they have good draining soil. Good luck with your move, you'll be so glad you took the trouble of moving your peonies with you when they start blooming!!!...See Morelizbest1
6 years agoRedroses Z6
6 years agolinnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
6 years agoRedroses Z6
6 years agolinnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
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