How to divide and plant peony

Division time

Theoretically, the time for dividing peony can be from the time of budding in winter to before the land is unsealed. It is necessary to ensure that the soil temperature is high enough to facilitate wound healing, promote the sprouting of new roots, and enhance the plant's resistance to cold.

Division should not be done too early, and should not be done at the beginning of autumn to avoid autumn bloom phenomena. We often say that peonies come in July and peonies come in August (lunar calendar). In Heze, the hometown of peonies, division can begin at the end of August and continue until late September , while in the southern regions, it can only be carried out from late September to early November .

Division method   

Use a knife or your hands to naturally divide the plant into several sub-plants at the gaps, each sub-plant should have 3 to 5 buds. When dividing the plants, those with thicker and stronger roots should be retained. The roots of peony are very brittle, so you can dry them in a cool place before dividing them. Keep the soil moist when dividing the roots.

Maintenance after division

After division, the peony should not be planted too deep in the soil, 2 cm is appropriate. Planting too deep will prevent germination and may cause root rot. After planting, avoid exposure to the sun, pay attention to keeping warm and avoid frost damage. Keep it in a cool place for 3 to 5 days, then move it to the sun. After the plant grows well, water it appropriately and supplement nutrients.

If the root cluster of the divided plant is larger, it may bloom in the second year, but the flowers will be relatively small, so you can pick the flowers off to accumulate nutrients. Try not to let it bloom in the first two years. Sufficient nutrient accumulation will make the flowers bloom more beautifully.