When is it necessary to transplant peonies to another place in the summer and how to do it correctly

Peonies are no less popular among gardeners than roses. Despite their ease of care, some gardeners cannot cope with these flowers. They either grow poorly or don’t bloom at all. The reasons for this behavior of peonies are improper planting or lack of replanting. In this article we will talk about transplanting peonies to another place in the summer: when you can transplant them, how to do it correctly and care for the flowers after the procedure.

Is it possible to transplant peonies to another place in the summer?

Peonies are considered long-lived and can grow in the same place for more than 10 years.. There are cases where plants grew in flower beds for 50 years and delighted several generations of flower growers with abundant flowering.

But this is rather an exception to the rule than a pattern. Often, after 5-7 years, peonies begin to wither: Slugs, worms and ants find refuge in the root collar. Flower buds are laid deeper and deeper, as a result, flowers appear on the bushes only occasionally. This is a signal for the gardener: the peonies need to look for another place.

Reference. On a bush that requires replanting, spotted leaves appear, and in the area of ​​the rhizome the foliage turns yellow and dries.

3 main reasons for replanting peonies in summer:

• the flowers are sick, the roots are rotten, the foliage and buds are affected by pests;
• the bushes were in the shade due to the growth of bushes and trees;
• the plant stopped blooming due to a decrease in soil nutritional levels.

Timing for summer transplantation of peonies

It is recommended to transplant peonies after the buds have faded.. This happens at the end of summer, not earlier than August. During the summer period, the plant manages to stock up on nutrients and begins to prepare for winter.

The most favorable period for regions of the middle zone, according to experienced flower growers, August 20 - September 20. In Siberia and the Urals, the timing is approximately the same - from mid-August to mid-September. In the south, peonies are transplanted from September 15 to October 25.

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar in 2020:

• August - 20-26, 28, 29;
• September - 1-3, 7-12, 18-24, 28-30;
• October - 1, 4-6, 8, 10, 14, 17, 23-26.

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar in 2021:

• August - 23, 27-31;
• September - 1-3, 8-13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 25, 29, 30;
• October - 3, 4, 7-13, 16-21, 23-26.

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Choosing a new place

When choosing a new location for peonies, it is recommended to consider the lighting level: it is important that the site was sunny or in partial shade. The place must be protected from drafts and gusty winds. Flower growers also take into account the location of groundwater. Peonies do not grow well in areas that are too wet and swampy, which leads to rotting of the root system. Therefore, a place for transplantation is chosen on an elevated area.

The soil should be loose and fertile, ideally loam with neutral acidity. If necessary, the soil is fertilized with rotted manure and peat; river sand is added to too clayey and clogged soil.

It is not recommended to plant peonies under trees with a spreading crown. or overgrown shrubs, since the flowers will always be in the shade.

Reference. Peonies go well with lilies, delphiniums, clematis, phlox, and irises.

Preparing a new place for transplantation

They begin to prepare a new place about a month before the intended transplantation of flowers..

Holes 60-70 cm deep are dug in the area. The bottom is filled with a layer of drainage (broken brick, expanded clay, pebbles), and nutritious soil is poured on top, which can be purchased at gardening stores or prepared independently.

In a large container, mix 10 liters of peat, compost, river sand, add 200 g of wood ash and 50 g of superphosphate.

Preparing peonies

Before digging up a peony bush, It is recommended to cut the stems almost flush with the ground. Pruning is performed using sharply sharpened pruning shears. There is no need to completely cut off the foliage as it provides nutrients to the plant.

The bush is dug with a pitchfork from all sides and carefully pryed up. Some of the roots will inevitably break off, but this will not affect the condition of the plant in any way. Then they take the stems with both hands, swing the bush in different directions and carefully remove the rhizome along with the earthen lump. The roots are freed from the soil using water from a hose and left for 3-5 hours in the shade so that they wilt a little and become elastic. This will make the process of dividing the bush easier.

Division is done manually, if possible, or the rhizome is cut with a knife., pre-treated with medical alcohol or potassium permanganate. When dividing, it is important not to damage the kidneys.

3-5 buds are left on each division, and the length of the roots should be 15-20 cm. If they are too long, they are trimmed for ease of planting in the hole.

In the process of division the rhizome is carefully examined from all sides, areas with traces of rot and mold are cut off. The sections are sprinkled with crushed coal or lubricated with brilliant green. The delenki can be dipped in a disinfecting solution of potassium permanganate or the “Maxim” preparation for half an hour. To stimulate root formation, “Heteroauxin” or “Kornevin” is additionally used.

There is another way to protect the roots when transplanting - processing with a clay mash. To do this, clay is mixed with water to the consistency of thick sour cream, copper sulfate (50 g per 10 l) is added and the cuttings are dipped into this mixture.

How to transplant peonies to a new place

If the bush is replanted without dividing, there is no need to wash the roots. The rhizome is dug up and carefully transferred to the hole. The buds are buried no more than 5 cm. The soil is leveled and watered with water with the addition of potassium permanganate.

The delenka is placed in the center of the prepared hole and covered with a layer of clean soil.. Small divisions are planted vertically, large ones - at a slight slope. The earth is watered with clean, settled water and mulched with sawdust, peat or bark.

Mistakes to Avoid

Reasons for the lack of flowering after transplantation:

1. Excessive deepening of the rhizome. Peonies do not like deep planting and begin to rot. The optimal soil level is 3-5 cm from the root bud.
2. Wrong choice of place for transfer. Peonies love light and do not develop well in the shade.
3. Peonies do not grow well in acidic soil. To normalize acidity, dolomite flour or slaked lime (400-500 g per m²) is added to the soil.
4. When transplanting, too small divisions were used, which begin to bloom only 3-4 years after planting.
5. Insufficient watering or excess moisture.
6. Peonies overfed with nitrogen actively increase green mass, but do not produce flowers.

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Care after transplant

Transplanted peonies need extra attention florist The degree of survival in a new place depends on compliance with the rules of agricultural technology.

For the first 2 weeks, the divisions are not touched and give them time to adapt.. Plantings are watered abundantly 1-2 times a week. The roots must receive a sufficient amount of moisture, and with frequent surface watering, only the top layer of soil is moistened. 5-15 liters of settled water are poured under each bush, depending on the size of the bush. In dry weather, the frequency of watering is increased, and the soil under the bushes is loosened.

You should avoid adding nitrogen, because it causes active growth of green mass, and the plant does not have time to prepare for wintering. Potassium and phosphorus fertilizers are applied only 2-3 years after transplantation.

Preparations for wintering begin with the onset of the first cold weather.. The bushes are completely trimmed, covered with peat, straw, and dry leaves. In areas with harsh winters and little snow, peonies are covered with non-woven fiber and spruce branches.

Advice from experienced flower growers

Advice from experienced flower growers will help beginners maintain health, longevity and lush flowering of peonies:

1. The best place for planting is an open and sunny area on a hill. In a dark and damp place, flowers begin to rot.
2. Gusty winds and drafts are worse than frost for peonies, so the flower garden is located near fences and buildings.
3. It is not recommended to plant peonies under tall trees with a spreading crown and large shrubs, in the shade of which the flower almost does not bloom.
4. Peonies love fertile, breathable soil with neutral acidity. The more nutrients there are in the soil, the more luxuriantly the bushes bloom.
5. When transplanting, it is not recommended to bury the growth buds. Otherwise, there will be no lush flowering.
6. After planting cuttings or bushes, lightly press the soil with your hands, but in no case with your feet, so as not to damage the growth buds.
7. When planting in hot weather, the tree trunk circle is mulched with peat or straw to retain moisture in the soil and prevent the roots from drying out.
8. To water peonies, use water with the addition of “Kornevin” to stimulate root formation.
9. The first 2-3 years after planting, peonies rarely indulge in lush flowering. To stimulate bud formation, it is recommended to remove flower buds in the first year of flowering so that the bush spends less energy on growing roots. The buds are removed from the sides of the bush.
10. The buds of terry varieties of peonies are cut half-bloomed for a bouquet; non-terry varieties are cut at the stage of a colored bud. Flowers are cut in the morning so they last longer in the vase.

Conclusion

Peonies can grow in the same place for years and even decades. However, flower growers advise moving the flower to a new place every 5-7 years. Yellowing of the lower leaves, spots on their surface, and rare flowering indicate the need for replanting.

If peonies grow in the shade of tall trees and large shrubs, they receive little sunlight and react by not producing buds. In depleted soil, flowers receive less nutrition and wither. All of these are good reasons to move the plant to a more favorable location.