How to prune peonies?

Peony , as one of the top ten famous flowers in ancient China, is deeply loved by flower lovers for its large flowers and elegant posture swaying in the wind. If you want the peony to bloom more luxuriantly, timely pruning of branches is the key. The pruning of peonies requires different strategies according to different growth stages to ensure that the branches are full of flowers. Let’s learn in detail how to prune peonies.

1. Pruning techniques for peony before flowering

1. Prune away diseased and weak branches

Peonies grow rapidly, especially during the growing season, and need to be pruned at least twice. Within half a month after the plant sprouts, cut off all thin and diseased branches to maintain the beauty of the plant and the concentration of nutrients.

2. Main branch pruning

Before flowering, the main branches need to be pruned to remove excess flower buds. In principle, one best flower bud should be retained on each branch. For particularly strong main branches, you can leave one more flower bud to improve the quality of flowering.

2. Pruning methods during the flowering period of peony

1. Cut off the remaining flowers

Peonies usually bloom from May to June, but some flowers may bloom and wither earlier. These withered flowers and flowers of poor quality should be cut off in time.

2. Prune overly long branches

The flowering period is the most beautiful time of peony. Pruning should be done to keep the flower branches neat and shorten the excessively long branches to maintain the beautiful plant shape of the peony.

3. Key points for pruning peony after flowering

1. Cut off branches without nutrients

After the flowering period, most of the nutrients of peony are consumed by flowering, and the flower branches that appear to be declining should be pruned in time to preserve the nutrients of the plant.

2. Prune dead branches and leaves

When pruning in autumn, focus on removing dead branches and leaves, and appropriately thin out dense branches and buds to reduce nutrient consumption and help peonies survive the winter safely. Also, clean up fallen leaves in pots and destroy them to prevent pests.

4. Precautions for pruning peony

1. Trim the leaves

Pruning includes not only branches and flowers, but also leaves. It is usually carried out during and after flowering, especially for flower branches with many leaves, most of the leaves are cut off, leaving 5 to 7 leaves to concentrate nutrients on the flower buds.

2. Maintenance after pruning

After pruning, the peony should be carefully cared for, avoiding direct sunlight and placed in a diffuse light environment. Stop watering for 2 to 3 days after pruning, and resume normal maintenance after the cut ends are dry.

To sum up, pruning peony through the above methods can effectively promote vigorous growth of the plant and large flowers. As long as you follow these pruning tips, your peonies will thrive and bloom profusely.