Time to uncover your peonies
You might know by now that I love a good customer question.. especially a timely one! This week’s comes from Andrew.
(We) planted a number of bare root plants last fall, covering them with mulch as suggested. We understand, however, that removal of mulch to avoid excessive moisture is advisable in the spring. I recall hearing from you that peonys tolerate cold better than excessive water. So when should we remove the mulch?
-Andrew V.
As the days begin to warm and the soil slowly thaws, it’s time for one of the first spring chores in the peony garden: removing any mulch covering your plants. More rain, snow, wind, and cold may still be in the forecast, but whenever the planting area is exposed, that’s your cue to get the job done.
Peonies are remarkably hardy plants and generally do not need winter protection once they are established. In fact, the only time peonies benefit from a layer of winter mulch is during their first winter after planting, when the mulch helps prevent newly planted roots from being pushed out of the soil during freeze–thaw cycles.
If your peonies were planted last fall, you may have covered them with straw, leaves, or another loose mulch. Now that spring is approaching, gently remove that material so the new shoots can emerge freely. Leaving mulch in place too long can trap moisture around the crown and may increase the risk of rot.
For peonies that have been in the ground for more than a year, winter mulch is generally unnecessary. These long-lived perennials are perfectly capable of handling cold northern winters on their own.
Once uncovered, keep an eye on your plants. Those first red peony shoots often appear sooner than you expect—and they’re one of the most welcome signs that spring has truly arrived.
