Perfect Peonies: Plant Care & Bouquet Ideas
Peonies have been cultivated for thousands of years, and for adept reasons. Their massive blooms are some of the most impressive of all the spring and early summer. It doesn't take much know-how to brand these perennials happy. In fact, they're easy to maintain and they supply ample blossoms for cut-flowers as well!
When Do Peonies Bloom?
The massive, ruffled blooms bring whatever bloom border or walkway to life.
Peonies are one of the final jewels of spring, blooming in mid-May and June. Unlike a rose, peonies practise non blossom continuously all summer, even with deadheading. Their window is commonly nigh 6 weeks of blooming, but that can exist extended past growing varieties with different bloom times.
The Perfect Place for Peonies
The massive, ruffled blooms bring any flower edge or walkway to life. They're a perfect compliment to roses , irises, or other perennials. After their exuberant spring blooming, the stately greenish leaves make a handsome shrub all summer. Since peonies don't like to be transplanted, it'southward best to found them in a spot where they can flourish from the become-go.
- Total-lord's day is a peony'southward best friend. They tin can tolerate half a 24-hour interval of light, merely will produce the best blooms in 6 to viii hours of afternoon sunshine .
- Shelter from the air current keeps peonies in best form. The meridian-heavy blooms stay upright more easily in calm conditions.
- Fertile, well-draining soil with a neutral pH provides the best nutrient for your peonies.
How to Make Peonies Thrive
For such impressive blossoms, you'd recall they require special care, simply peonies don't ask for much fuss. If y'all know how to brand them happy, they'll thrive in your garden for over 100 years!
- Save the fertilizer. If you have healthy soil , peonies don't need many soil add-ons. As long every bit yous work some compost into the soil when yous plant, they'll be happy for a few years.
- Back up the stems. The heavy blooms and insufficiently thin stems make them prone to toppling over. Utilise a cage or necktie them to stakes to go along those blooms standing in the spring.
- Deadhead the spent flowers. Prune the stems back to the leaves, and so you don't have empty stems sticking up into the air.
- Cut them back in the fall later on the kickoff frost to protect them from any diseases that might form on the expressionless leaves over wintertime. They're hardy to our climate and winters here in Illinois .
My Peonies Have Ants On Them
It's mutual to see ants itch up peony flowers, but these industrious fiddling fellows cause no harm. Folklore says that peonies demand ants in guild to bloom, in fact, the peonies benefit from their presence but don't require them for blooms to open. The ants feed on the sweet nectar in the blossoms and protect the flowers from other insects in the procedure. There'south no need to spray them. They won't stay all summer, and will disappear afterward the flowers finish blooming.
How to Make Peony Bouquets
The soft, silky petals of peonies make gorgeous cut flowers. They're platonic for wedding displays, bouquets with other flowers, or just to savor on the dinner table. But if y'all want them costless of ants, and to last every bit long as possible, hither are a few tricks to find:
- Cut them in one case they brainstorm to open up , and don't cutting them also early! Completely closed peony blooms will non open one time cut. Look until the blossoms bear witness colour and are equally soft as a marshmallow. This volition extend their life and you'll go them before whatsoever ants become lost inside the blossoms.
- Cut them in the morning time when moisture is still in their stems.
- Recut the stems every 2-3 days , once you've placed them in warm water. Remember to replace the water every 2-iii days as well to keep them as fresh as possible.
Peonies are not the kind of flowers that flower all summer. Their vivid blooms are gifts nosotros have to enjoy in the spring. But if yous know how to make them every bit good for you as possible, those blossoms give more than plenty please, and easily become a highlight of the yr—both for the ants—and for you!
Platt Hill Nursery is Chicago's premier garden center and nursery.
Source: https://platthillnursery.com/guide-to-growing-peonies/
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