5 Tips For A Lush Peony Bloom

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Luxurious bushes covered with inflorescence caps are the dream of every summer resident. If your peonies do not bloom well, you need to rejuvenate the bush or use some tricks. I offer 5 tips for caring for peonies

Tip 1. Competent watering

Peonies are unpretentious and can grow without your care and effort. If you want to enjoy the abundant flowering every year, you need to help the bush to accumulate strength. Despite the deep bedding of the tubers, water is necessary for the development of the root system. I will list three basic rules.

1. Spring watering is important and takes place at the end of May. At this time, the leaves are actively growing, buds begin to form.

2. After the end of flowering, in July-August, new buds are laid in the plant. During this period, you cannot keep the bush dry.

3. In rainy, cool months, watering is not needed, but if the weather is hot, you will have to make an effort to keep the earth from drying out. In a hot season, you need to water the peonies every 7-10 days.

Let's talk about how to properly water peonies. The root system of a peony works from the periphery to the center, therefore, young roots located at a distance from the center play the role of suction and supply of nutrition to the middle. No need to pour water under the base of the leaves. In the place where the shoots emerge, thick rhizomes are located, serving only for the accumulation of nutrients.

In young bushes, the feeding zone is a radius of 20-25 cm (counted from the stems), in old ones - 35-40. It is in these places that the earth needs to be moistened. To increase the quality of irrigation, you need to in the right place, a groove is made to prevent water spreading. A mini-trench is dug with a garden scoop to a depth of 8-10 cm. In it, you can water with a watering can without a nozzle or a bucket.

When watering a peony every 10 days, 3-4 buckets are used per bush, in several steps. The event is best done in the evening as it promotes better absorption.

Tip 2. Loosening

The earthen crust under the bushes blocks the respiration of the roots, interferes with the growth of the plant. Periodic loosening removes the negative of this phenomenon. It is better to work on damp ground: after rain or watering.

Loosening is done in a circle: the stems have a depth of no more than 5 cm, stepping back 25 cm from them, you can deepen the tool by 10-15 cm.

Tip 3. Top dressing

Fertilizers are usually added to the planting pits, therefore, in the first two years, peonies do not need additional nutrition. In the third year, fertilizing is carried out, it is desirable to carry out them 4 times.

1. The first is done in the spring, during the awakening of the buds, at the stage of the emergence of red shoots. Ammonium nitrate is used (10 l of water + 1 tbsp. L.), Used as irrigation, 1 bucket per bush.

2. The second feeding takes place at the budding stage. The working solution consists of superphosphate, potassium salt, ammonium nitrate. On a bush, you need to take half a matchbox of each substance and embed it in the ground around the leaves.

3. The third during the flowering period. Fertilizers are the same as in the second feeding.

4. Fourth, when the peonies have completely bloomed. 1/3 tbsp is embedded in the soil under the bush. l. potassium, 1/2 tbsp. l. superphosphate.

Remember that the introduction of dry mixtures is done on wet soil and, after planting, is watered, if desired, mulched.

Tip 4. Rejuvenation

Peonies can grow in one place for more than 50 years. A respectable age is reflected in flowering, the older the bush, the less buds are formed. This is due to the overgrowth of the root system, which needs to be corrected.

For lush flowering, peonies need to dig out and remove excess tubers every 10 years. After dividing, the bush will grow well in the same place. 3-4 full-fledged tubers with productive buds are left on the share. A similar "operation" should be carried out in August.

Tip 5. Removing buds

Peonies will bloom actively if you help the plant save energy, for this you need to know about three important points.

1. Removal of buds is necessary in the first two years after planting. A young bush will not waste energy on inflorescences and the root system will fully develop, which will further lead to massive flowering.

2. To obtain large flowers, the peripheral / small buds are removed. This is done in the initial stage of formation, when they first appear (the size of a pea).

3. To exclude the development of gray rot and other diseases, do not allow the petals to fall off. When wilting begins, prune the buds.

Subject to simple rules, your peonies will have beautiful foliage and delight with lush flowering.