Although peonies can be transplanted in the spring, the survival rate is low and those that do make it may not bloom for two years or more. ), Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) and Siberian iris (Iris siberica) are best divided in the fall. You often hear, however, gardeners bemoaning the retail price of a new peony plant. Perennials with fleshy roots such as peonies (Paeonia spp. Fall is the better time and proper siting is crucial. have been cultivated in landscapes around the world for thousands of years and can grow in your own garden for almost a century, without ever needing to be divided. You’ll find the clump is huge and heavy, with long carrot-shaped roots reaching irreguarly out in all directions. When transplanting a peony, it can take three to four years for it to become reestablished and bloom abundantly. Unlike many perennials you can divide by just digging out a chunk from the outside of the clump to move elsewhere, thus causing minimal disturbance to the mother plant, when you divide peonies, it’s wisest to dig the whole thing up. You can improve the quality of your soil by adding compost and an all purpose fertilizer at planting time. When should you divide perennials? All peonies hate “wet feet”, so good drainage is important. Peonies can be leftundisturbed for many years. This is because dividing your perennials can be stressful on the plants—and they'll recover better from the shock in cool, moist conditions. WHEN TO PLANT: Bareroot peonies can be planted in spring or fall. Finally, intersectional peonies are a cross between tree and herbaceous peonies. It is easy to locate the plants that need dividing. If you don’t get around to dividing peonies this fall, you can divide them in spring as soon as the soil is workable. Don’t worry if the flowers seem a bit sparse the first spring after moving established peonies. The plants are not frost tender, so they can … Remove the mulch prior to the growing season in the spring. This allows the transplants to establish their roots long before the following winter’s frosts. I mean you can probably divide them in the spring if you don't want to see them bloom this year. Early fall is another great time to divide perennials, especially peonies. Sometimes, however, it becomesnecessary to move established peonies. For years hybridizers were unsuccessful at crossing the two until a Japanese nurseryman finally got it right. Peonies (Paeonia spp.) The good news is that if you already have a peony growing in the garden, you can divide it to come by more plants. You can expect blooms from these beauties in the spring. While you can divide most perennials any time from spring to fall, those two seasons are best. Divide spring and summer blooming perennials in the fall because. There is less gardening work to do in the fall compared with spring. Avoid planting in areas where the soil is soggy or compacted. Early spring through early summer is a great time to divide most perennials. since the peonies are really a spring bloomer I would divide after they bloom or in the fall. More about fall gardening: Plant bulbs this fall But as a basic rule of thumb plants that bloom in the spring divide in the fall and plants that bloom in the fall divide in the spring. You seldom hear someone complain about a big, fragrant peony blooming in spring. Large,old plants should be dug, divided, and transplanted to improveperformance. Peonies shaded by largetrees or shrubs bloom poorly and should be moved to a sunny site.Large, old plants may become overcrowded and flower poorly. Through early summer is a great time to divide perennials, especially.... 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