Can i transplant peonies in the spring

Using a large knife, divide the clump into sections. Each division should have at least three to five buds eyes and a good root system. Smaller divisions will require several years to develop into attractive plants. Peonies perform best in full sun and well-drained soils.

When selecting a planting site, choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day. Avoid shady areas near large trees and shrubs. Poorly drained soils often can be improved by working in large amounts of compost , peat moss or leaf mold. Position the peony plant in the hole so the buds are one to two inches below the soil surface.

Dig a hole that is two times as wide as the peony's root ball. The depth should be exactly the same as the root ball so it is planted just as deeply as it was before. Planted too deeply, the plant may not flower. Set the peony in the hole and backfill the soil around the sides. Tamp the soil with your hands lightly so you fill in the air pockets but do not compact the soil so hard that water is unable to flow through it.

Water the peony with 1 inch of water and add 3 inches of mulch, such as bark or leaves, to conserve water during the first year after transplanting and to keep the roots cool during warm weather. You can cut a peony to the ground before transplanting, if desired. To transplant now, cut the foliage back and use a sharp, flat spade to make a cut around the peony in preparation for lifting the root ball. My peony at home has already gone dormant with brown foliage.

Angle the cut under the roots of the peony starting a few inches away from the foliage at the base of the plant. A distance of 2 to 4 inches away from the foliage should suffice— a healthy, vigorous clump may benefit from a slightly larger root ball and a less-developed plant could do with a smaller root ball.

After cutting around the plant, use the spade to gently pry the root ball up. If the soil crumbles away from the edges, you may have made the root ball too big. A healthy plant with a good root system should pop right out of the ground. If you have sandy soil in your garden, the root ball may break apart. Water the new transplant well and add mulch. Moving and dividing peonies should be done in autumn once the leaves have died back.

This can be any time from October to February. Firstly dig the plant out of the ground. Depending on its age, you might need a fork or a spade. We often use a mini-digger! It is likely that you will not get all the plant out of the ground. You will find that peonies with bulbous roots such as Paeonia officinalis types will regrow if some root is left in the ground.

This can be a blessing or a curse! Once it is out of the ground, blast it with water from a hose pipe to clear away the soil. The eyes are next years leaf shoots and this is where you need to aim for when splitting the plant apart.