Peonies always make me think of weddings. They’re such a romantic flower, so frilly and beautiful in shades of creamy white, soft pink or magenta. What bride wouldn’t want a bouquet of peonies?
They’re even lovely when they start to decline. Every gentle breeze brings a shower of petals to the ground.
And speaking of weddings, all it takes is one good rainstorm to have your peonies looking like the bridesmaid who drank too much and didn’t catch the bouquet at the reception…
…a disappointed hot mess.
It always amazes me how fast they go from “Oooh” to “Ugh!” Yet despite their fleeting beauty, these spring flowers are a favorite among gardeners, myself included. And unlike your cousin’s wedding to that questionable guy she met on a bar crawl six months ago, peonies are in it for the long haul.
If you want them to keep showing up, year after year, with their big, blousy blossoms, now is the time to do a little post-bloom cleanup.
Grab your sunhat (don’t forget your sunscreen) and your gardening gloves, and let’s get the job done.
Deadhead Blossoms as They Fade
Start by removing those faded, browning blooms. They’re on their way out anyway; be merciful and end it before they end up in a rotting, wet mess on the lawn. But be careful. Use your pruners and snip spent flowers only down to the first healthy set of leaves. We’ll get to the foliage in a moment.
Removing the flowers once they begin to decline allows the plant to redirect more energy to the crown and roots. And as always, use clean, sanitized shears. (I keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol in the garden shed right next to my pruners.)
Don’t Cut Back the Foliage (Yet)
I know. It’s tempting. Speaking of drunk bridesmaids, those peony leaves are flopping over like they made good use of the open bar.
But unlike the bridesmaid, peony foliage is still busy creating energy for the plant to store via photosynthesis. Yep, even when it’s lying down on the job. If you hack that greenery down too soon, you’re robbing yourself of next year’s flowers.
Support the Flop
Of course, you don’t have to let your peony lie there on the lawn looking all bedraggled. It’s better if you don’t. Getting your peony up off the ground will prevent pest and disease issues and allow for better air circulation. If heavy rains or huge flowers have knocked over your peony, give it some support.
Peony rings are fantastic! A lot of people suggest using tomato cages, but peony rings are much better, in my opinion, because they are two separate pieces, and you can easily adjust them to support larger plants or move them as the plant grows. Plus, if you don’t get that tomato cage over your peonies as soon as they pop up, you’re out of luck. Peony rings can be added or removed at any time.
Water Wisely
Just because the blooms are gone doesn’t mean you can stop watering. Normal rainfall should keep them happy, but if it’s an especially dry summer or you’re dealing with periods of intense heat or drought, your peonies will benefit from a drink.
Mulching around the base (but not up against the stems) will also help retain moisture and regulate soil temps.
Fertilize. Lightly. Maybe.
If your peonies were less than amazing this year, with few blooms or stunted growth, they might need to be fertilized. A good balanced fertilizer applied after blooming can help the plant recover and recharge.
Go easy. Peonies aren’t heavy feeders, and too much nitrogen will give you big, bushy leaves and zero flowers, hence the balanced fertilizer. Espoma Organic Garden-tone is a great option. Scratch it into the ground around the plant’s drip line in moist soil.
Pay Attention in Late Summer
Late summer is prime time for botrytis, also known as gray mold. It’s pretty easy to diagnose – you’ll have blackened stems, wilting foliage, and weird fuzzy gray gunk on your plant. If you spot any of these symptoms, prune it all off and dispose of it properly. Don’t compost it.
This is one circumstance when removing the foliage early is acceptable.
If you live somewhere with humid summers, first, hello friend, I, too, feel your pain…and dampness. You may want to consider a neem oil spray (I like this one because it comes with a sprayer attachment) or sulfur-based fungicide as a preventative measure. This is also another good reason to stake your peonies.
Mark Their Location
Peonies have a habit of disappearing completely in the fall, leaving you wondering if you imagined those gorgeous blooms last spring. Normally, this isn’t a huge issue, but if you’re going to be doing any planting or dividing near your peonies, mark them while you can see them.
Otherwise, you could easily stab your hori hori straight through the crown, causing half the plant to die. Yes, I know this one from experience, and I’m not too proud to admit it. Learn from my mistakes.
Save yourself from similar heartache and mark their location now. A labeled stake, a decorative rock, or even a garden map in your planner will do the trick.
Is it Fall Yet? Okay, Now You Can Cut Them Back
Once the foliage has turned yellow or brown—usually by late September or October—you’re in the clear to cut it all down. Trim the stems back to just above soil level and pitch them on the compost pile. Removing the dead foliage helps prevent pests from overwintering and helps to keep your peonies disease-free.
As you can see from this simple list, you don’t need to spend an entire weekend taking care of your peonies post-bloom. It only takes a little bit of time and effort to ensure they will be back next spring with their lush blooms, filling your garden with their fragrance.
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