When is the best time to prune mulberry leaf peony?

Overview of Peony

Mulberry leaf peony, also known as Buddhist hibiscus and Chinese hibiscus, is a famous flower in my country. The flowers come in many colors and have a long flowering period. The flowers bloom most abundantly in summer and autumn. It likes a warm, humid and sunny environment. It is not shade-tolerant and cold-resistant. In the north, it can only be cultivated in potted plants. The room temperature should be maintained at 12-15 degrees and not lower than 0 degrees. It is suitable for planting in soil rich in organic matter with a pH value of 6.5-7.

Pruning time of mulberry leaf peony

Mulberry-leaf peony can be pruned and shaped before being taken out of the house in early March. All the upper branches should be cut and topped. Pruning can promote the growth of new branches and make it grow vigorously. After pruning, watering and fertilizing need to be controlled due to the reduction of nutrient consumption in the aboveground part. Pruning is not recommended when the temperature is low in winter, but it can be pruned appropriately according to the local temperature.

Mulberry leaf peony pruning method

1. Shortening and thinning during the dormant period: before the mulberry leaf peony sprouts, you can promptly thin out the dead branches, weak branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and injured branches. Then, leave 1-2 branches on each branch, and shorten each branch above the full buds in the middle. Thin out the overly dense and low branches.

2. Pick buds. When pruning in spring, you can pick buds according to the strength and branching of the plant. Leave 2 full buds on each branch and remove all the others. If there are many flowering branches, leave only one bud on each branch.

3. Prune after flowering. Because the flowers and leaves of mulberry leaf peony bloom at the same time, after flowering, the withered flowers need to be pruned in time to avoid consuming too much nutrients. The leaves under the flowers can be retained to make the branches fuller.

Precautions for pruning mulberry leaf peony

Mulberry-leaf peony grows vigorously in spring, and many tillers will appear at the base. If the plant is a grafted seedling, it is necessary to know whether the tiller grows on the rootstock or the scion. The tillers on the rootstock must be removed, and the tillers grown at the base of the scion or the base of the ramet propagation branches should be removed except for those left as renewal branches.