topic Re: Peonies in Garden

Peonies

Patriot3 — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:00:55 GMT

Does anyone know about the care of peonies. I know they only bloom in spring. I like them, but not if they take a lot of care. Thanks!!

Re: Peonies

HLP — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:07:33 GMT

@Patriot3 wrote:
Does anyone know about the care of peonies. I know they only bloom in spring. I like them, but not if they take a lot of care. Thanks!!

I've had them for years, no care at all. You will notice large black ants on them, this is normal and will help the buds to open. In the Fall when the the bloom is gone, cut them about an inch above the ground. They will come up next Spring. Do not plan to cut them and bring them in your home, ANTS!!!

Re: Peonies

Mz iMac — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:11:03 GMT

@HLP

You will notice large black ants on them, this is normal and will help the buds to open.

@HLP How?

Re: Peonies

HLP — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:15:15 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
@HLP
You will notice large black ants on them, this is normal and will help the buds to open.
@HLP How?

They eat the gooey syrup on the buds. This is what my Mom told me , and my Mom knew flowers. And Moms are always right.Mz iMac

Re: Peonies

goldensrbest — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:20:43 GMT

They are lovely, but you have to support them,with a cage.

Re: Peonies

Mz iMac — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:20:48 GMT

@HLP Well now, that is interesting. Moms are always right. As one myself, I should know.

Re: Peonies

PA Mom-mom — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:21:50 GMT

@Patriot3 I love peonies, but there are some issues to consider. As @HLP stated, they do attract large black ants. If I wanted to bring cut peonies into the house, I would quickly dunk them in hot (not boiling) water and shake them vigorously. Then, I would pick off the ants, if any were left. Also, if the flowers are quite large, they will bend down to the ground when you get rain. Some people put up a small fencing girdle around the plant to stop that from happening.

Bottom line: They smell so good and are just beautiful. I would love plant them again, but they take a while to establish, and we are planning to sell within the next 5 years.

Re: Peonies

Foxxee — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:04:09 GMT

Not much care at all. Those I have here in the Northeast bloom in early Spring. One problem, the stalks are fragile and fall over when it rains. It always seems to rain, so they bend over and the rain often destroys the flowers separating the petals. I cut them to bring in the house before this happens. You could use something to keep them upright.

I cut back close to the ground at the same time I cut the flowers. The leaves often get a fungus. Not interested in spraying them every year. Normally, I would wait to cut them down in the Fall.

Every once in a while, I separate them in the ground...they do spread, mine slowly though, to keep them in check.

Interestingly, I don't have black ants. I have had them where I lived before.

I wish they lasted longer...I blame it on the rain, but they are really worth it.

Re: Peonies

Krimpette — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:04:48 GMT

My parents had them in their back yard. I was never a fan because of the ants.

Re: Peonies

Roscoe the Rascal — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:19:12 GMT

I have them and love them. Nothing special to do. I cut them back in the fall.

You can google what to do for care.

Re: Peonies

cheriere — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 21:34:32 GMT

@Patriot3 wrote:
Does anyone know about the care of peonies. I know they only bloom in spring. I like them, but not if they take a lot of care. Thanks!!

Peonies are one of my favorite flowers. Unfortunately I've never had much luck with them though. Maybe it gets warm too quick where I live because they don't last no time for me. The bugs take them over.😔

Re: Peonies

Scooby Doo — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 23:30:19 GMT

I have several in my yard. I throw some fertilizer on them in the Spring and put a tomato cage around them to keep them off the ground. They do like sunny locations but they don't require much watering. I cut them to the ground at the end of October. I had one up against a fence that got mold every year so I dug it up. It think that was because it didn't get enough circulation from the moist air. I don't have ants. It's an old wives tell that they help the flowers to bloom. Ants are on there because the plants are sticky and the ants are attracted to it. I have several colors of peonies, pink, red, white, and pink/white. I have one big pink plant that's been in it's location for about 50 years. I've separated it a couple of times and given it new soil.

Re: Peonies

Carmie — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:28:52 GMT

I love them. They are one of my favorite flowers. They don't require any care at all. They do attract ants, but after the blooms reopen, the ants seem to be gone.

The plants last for years and the plant gets more flowers as they age.

In my area, they bloom around Memorial Day. I remember taking bouquets to the Cemetary with my parents every Memorial Day.

We hve have fushia, white and pink peonies, but one of my neighbors has two yellow ones on each side of her driveway. So beautiful. I just wish they bloomed longer.

Re: Peonies

gardenman — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 12:41:46 GMT

They're great plants. You just have to be careful planting them so as not to plant them too deep. They like to be planted quite shallow. They're insanely long-lived. One of the ways you can identify an old homestead long after all of the other signs are gone are peonies still surviving there. It's not unusual for them to outlast everything else.

My old neighbor had a row of them along her back fence and after she died, the new owners kept mowing them down. It took about five years of constant mowing before the peonies finally gave up and stopped trying to grow.

Re: Peonies

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:12:46 GMT

If everyone watched Carolyn and Pat they answered all of the questions on the show. As a suggestion maybe you could watch the show again.

Dont put the peonies in warm water, cool to cold to get rid of the ants (also on the show). No you do not have to put cages or supports around peonies.

Re: Peonies

HLP — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 17:45:23 GMT

@goldensrbest wrote:
They are lovely, but you have to support them,with a cage.

I never have, I like to see them droop a little.

Re: Peonies

Skyegirl21 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 17:54:29 GMT

The only thing is that the bloom buds get large, and you may have to stake the plant or the blooms end up on the ground, especially if it rains in spring- You might Get one of those rings early on to coral the plant!

Re: Peonies

Patriot3 — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:14:54 GMT

Thanks for all the replies.....you kinda had me at big black ants, drooping and caging. I wanted to cut and bring inside.

Guess I'll try some other plant

Re: Peonies

ECBG — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 03:36:09 GMT

My fav flower! So beautiful!

Re: Peonies

luvmyteddy4 — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:03:52 GMT

I've had my peonies for decades and always dig up some cuttings and give away every summer. I have white and pink ones. I've transplanted them from the backyard to the front. I don't do anything to them. I do hate that the rain mashes them down.

Last year I cut peonies all summer and put in a vase on my covered porch. They look so pretty from the street. I used to get ants but not anymore. They last quite awhile in the vases.

Sometimes I cut some roses and put them together in the vases.