Fall is the best time to transplant and divide peonies. Here’s how!
WHEN AND HOW TO DIVIDE PEONIES
There’s a reason we ship out our peony roots in the fall. It’s this time of year when the weather turns cool that peonies put their energy into developing roots that will supply the energy needed for next year’s stems, leaves and flowers.
For the same reasons, it’s a great time to divide the peonies you already have to create more beautiful plants for free! Spread them around your garden of gift them to a friend.
First things first… you do not need to divide a peony. They can live very happily for decades as they are. Unless you are looking to make more plants, share with a friend, move the peony to a different location, etc. the peony can stay right where it is, regardless of how old or large it is.
If you are moving a large peony, it will likely benefit from being divided rather than replanted at the same size.
“If a large plant was dug and replanted without dividing, the peony may languish for a number of years. It is best to divide a large root into 3-5 eye sections with the roots trimmed back to 6-8 inches in length.”
- American Peony Society, https://americanpeonysociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/APS-Peony-FAQs.pdf
So here’s how to do it!
Choose a fall day when the weather is cool and overcast. This is important because it will reduce stress on the plants during the transplanting process. Peonies can be transplanted as long as the ground isn’t frozen, but giving time for roots to grow and settle in before freeze up is beneficial for getting this new peony established before winter. So it’s better to plant in October than later in areas with deep frost.
Cut back the foliage on the peony plants to about couple inches above the ground. This will make it easier to see what you're doing and reduce the stress on the plant.
Use a garden fork to carefully dig up the entire peony plant, taking care not to damage the roots. Plan to dig at least 6-8" out from the stems of the peony plant. The roots grow out as well as down! Gently remove excess soil. I like to spray with a garden hose to help remove the soil.
Use a sharp, clean knife or pruners to divide the peony root into smaller sections. If the roots are very dense, use a sharp, clean hand saw. Each section should have at least a couple healthy roots and a few pink or white buds. These buds will become next year's stems and we refer to them as “eyes”.
Replant each section of the peony plant in a hole that is twice as wide as the root system and deep enough so that those buds are 1" to 2” below the soil surface. Do not plant too deep! But also, no part of the root should be visible above the soil.
If any piece of root breaks off, plant that in the hole as well. Many varieties have the ability to create new plants from root fragments that have no eyes or crown tissue… more on this later!
Water the newly transplanted peonies thoroughly, and continue to water them regularly for the next few weeks until they become established. You can (and should) water up until the ground freezes.
By following these instructions, you should be able to successfully divide your garden peonies in the fall and enjoy healthy, beautiful plants for years to come!
If you have any questions along the way, please hit reply to this email or give me a call/text! I’m happy to help.
