Planting and care of peonies in the open field, reproduction and cultivation
Blooming peonies are a decoration of a personal or garden plot. Snow white, pink, scarlet and burgundy, terry or brilliant, these blooms are spectacular. It is important to know how to properly plant and care for peonies in the open field. Consider the basic conditions for the successful cultivation of this flower, and also get acquainted with the popular varieties grown in our latitudes.
Description and characteristics
The peony is one of the oldest perennial herbaceous plants. There are about forty of its subspecies. And the number of varieties bred by breeders from different countries reaches five thousand. Among them there are tree, herbaceous and mixed specimens. In nature, the flower grows in the regions of North America and Eurasia, where a temperate and subtropical climate prevails.The name of this plant culture comes from the name of the famous Chinese healer Pean, who lived in the Han period two thousand years ago.
In the middle latitudes, the most popular are herbaceous species of peonies, the flowers of which are distinguished by their visual appeal and pleasant aroma. The average height of the bush is one meter. Its rhizome is quite powerful and large in size. The roots are in the form of bumps. The plant forms several shoots. Peony leaves are trifoliate or pinnately separated. Their color ranges from green and bluish to purple.
The flowers are simple. They are characterized by a large size. Both on a bush and in a bouquet they look luxurious. Even after the flowering period, peonies are attractive due to their dense, lush foliage with a deep bluish green color. Peony care is simple due to the simplicity and simplicity of the plant.
how to plant
When planting peonies in open ground, it is necessary to choose the right time, prepare the place and the soil, as well as follow a certain scheme.
The timing
Peonies are planted in autumn or spring. Each case has its own characteristics.
In autumn
The period from late August to mid-October proved to be optimal for planting. However, depending on the specific regional climatic conditions, these dates may vary slightly.
There are several important arguments in favor of planting peonies in the fall:
- build the root system in cool weather;
- preservation of nutrients, as they are not wasted on green mass and flowering;
- enough natural humidity due to precipitation.
In the event that the planting dates were forced to move to late autumn, for plants it is necessary to cover a shelter up to ten centimeters thick.
In spring
If the seedlings were purchased in the winter, then it is necessary to grow them a little at home, and after the snow melts, transplant them into the open ground.
Spring sowing should be done in April, and in regions with harsher and colder climates in May.
Preparation of planting material and soil
When choosing a place for the future planting of shrubs, it is necessary to avoid stagnation of moisture, which can cause rotting of the rhizome. It is important that the site is well lit by the sun, since heavy shading negatively affects the development of the plant. The optimal soil type for peonies is loamy, acidic neutral.
If the soil is very heavy, with a predominance of clay, then it should be diluted with peat, river sand and humus. If it contains a lot of sand, you need to add a mixture of clay and leaf humus. Soil with excess peat for a peony is extremely unfavorable. However, the situation can be corrected by diluting the soil composition with a small amount of organic fertilizers, river sand and wood ash.
It is also important to properly prepare peony seedlings for planting in the open ground. If they have spent a long time in a warm room, then it is necessary to store them in the refrigerator until planting, after wrapping them in moss. You should pay special attention to the condition of peony seedlings, even when buying. The optimal height for them is 20-25 centimeters. In this case, the roots should be strong and durable in appearance.
Landing scheme
Planting peonies in open ground is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Dig a planting hole with a diameter of 70-80 and a depth of 50-60 centimeters.
- Cover the bottom of the hole with a drainage layer, using one of the options for this - crushed stone, large expanded clay or crushed brick.
- Pour a mound of soil-compost mixture, wood ash, as well as double superphosphate, potassium sulfate or other fertilizers with a composition of potassium phosphate above the drainage.
- Gently lower the seedling into the planting hole, spread the rhizomes and direct them downward.
- Cover with soil and deepen the growing point by a maximum of five centimeters. It should be taken into account that greater deepening leads to a weakening of the bush and an increase in susceptibility to disease and damage.
After planting, peonies should be watered with ten liters of water under each bush. After irrigation, the soil will settle a little, so you need to add the amount of soil to the hole. Then mulch with peat or straw.
Rules of care
The principles of care differ depending on the season.
In autumn
In autumn, it is necessary to take care of peonies in order to prepare for the coming winter. At this stage, they are fertilized with potassium-phosphorus nutrients, pruned, and then covered to protect them from frost and wind.
In spring
In the spring, when the snow has just melted, they remove the winter shelter from the peony bushes, then water it at the very root and fertilize the soil.
watering
The first watering of peonies after winter is carried out as soon as the soil warms up. To do this, prepare a solution of 10 liters of water and 5 grams of potassium permanganate. It should be poured directly under the root of the peony, avoiding contact with the leaves.It is a good prophylactic agent against gray rot and other diseases that attack the plant. In the future, clean water should be used for irrigation. Peonies require moderate watering, excess moisture and proximity to groundwater are destructive for them. It will be necessary to increase the frequency of watering during the flowering period, as well as when the weather is too hot and dry.
top dresser
Spring feeding of peonies has a positive effect on the condition of the roots and the future formation of buds. Throughout the spring, liquid fertilizers should be applied to the root of the plant every fortnight. For the first time to feed peonies in early spring, you need to use 40 grams of urea dissolved in 10 liters of water. The second time it is recommended to use a universal garden fertilizer for flowering plants.
The third spring feeding is carried out during the period of bud burst - at the end of May. To do this, use a nutritional formula prepared from the following ingredients:
- 10 grams of superphosphate;
- 7 grams of saltpeter;
- 5 grams of potassium salt;
- 10 liters of water.
In the fall, to feed the bushes of peonies, it is necessary to use compounds of potassium and phosphorus, which will provide abundant formation of buds, strengthen the roots and lush flowering in the new season. This requires diluting a tablet of phosphorus and potassium in 10 liters of water. It is also allowed to add additives to the soil under the peony bushes in a dry form. In this case, a powder mixture of 20 grams of phosphorus and 10 grams of potassium should be scattered around each of them.
Size
Tree and herbaceous varieties of peonies require regular pruning.
In different seasons, different stages of this procedure take place:
- early spring pruning;
- pruning after flowering;
- pruning before wintering.
The main purpose of spring pruning is to rejuvenate peony bushes. At this stage, the healthy shoots of the plant are partially shortened, and the dried and broken parts are also removed. Pruning at the end of flowering contributes to the accumulation of strength by the plant and to its orientation towards budding the following year. Wilted buds should be removed two weeks after the peony bush has completely withered.
Before wintering, pruning a peony helps the plant rest and recover effectively, as well as accumulate vital moisture by next spring.
The rejuvenation and shaping procedure is recommended in mid-April. It takes place in several stages:
- Cut second season shoots back to the growth node.
- Completely remove the weakened twigs, leaving a stalk 10-20 centimeters above the ground.
- For larger flowers, cut off a third of the forming buds.
- In tree bushes growing on the rootstock, completely cut off the root growth.
- Remove shoots that show signs of frost.
In late autumn - late October or early November, peonies are pruned before wintering. It is permissible to carry out this procedure earlier than this period in the presence of abundant lesions of flowers with diseases and premature wilting of the green mass. In other cases, peonies should not be cut in advance, as this will lead to a violation of photosynthesis and nutrient deficiency - as a result, the immunity of the plant will decrease.
Stages of late autumn pruning of peonies:
- Cut the stems with a sharp tool so that 5 centimeters remain above the growing points.
- Remove cut plant parts from site and burn.
- Places where peonies grow should be insulated for the winter with a layer of peat or humus from dried leaves. The optimal thickness of the covering layer is 15-20 centimeters. Dry foliage should not be used for these purposes, as it can become bait for insect pests.
Transfer
Transplanting peonies should be carried out in the spring - in April or May - in the following order:
- Dig into a bush from all sides and carefully, using a shovel, remove it.
- Divide the perennial peony into several parts for further reproduction.
- Dig planting holes corresponding to the size of the rhizomes of the separate processes.
- Cover the bottom of each planting hole with a layer of compost - this is necessary for better survival of the transplanted peony bush.
- Place a bush in the hole, sprinkle with soil and tamp it down, then water thoroughly.
After flowering
Caring for the bush after flowering consists of pruning faded flowers and removing broken and damaged branches.
Preparation for wintering
Before wintering, it is necessary to feed the plants with nutrients. They are planted in October. At the onset of the first frosts, prune the peony bushes. After that, it is necessary to provide the plants with reliable shelter, using one of the listed options - spruce branches, sawdust, compost, peat or fallen leaves .
Breeding methods
There are several ways to grow flowers on the site.
Seeds
Seeds for peony propagation are mainly used by breeders. In other cases, this procedure is too long and laborious.
Sow fresh seeds in loose soil. The optimal time for this procedure is August. The first shoots will appear next spring. But flowering will have to wait 4-5 years after sowing seeds - this is the main drawback of this method.
Root cuttings
Propagating plants using root cuttings is an easier and more reliable method. The steps of the procedure are as follows:
- In July, separate a small piece of rhizome from a dormant bud.
- Plant it in the ground.
- Expect rooting by September.
Divide the bush
To implement this method, you will need peony bushes 5-7 years old. At the end of summer, after the buds have fully ripened, it is necessary to carefully divide the bush into several parts and plant.
Pests and diseases
If the rules of agricultural technology are violated, the flowers can infect diseases and pests.
gray rot
Gray mold, also known as botrytis, is the most common disease affecting peonies. Signs of this disease usually appear in May - shoots and other parts of the plant begin to rot and become covered with mold with a grayish tint.
Provoking factors:
- cramped in a bed of peonies;
- excess nitrogen in the soil;
- prolonged rains.
Affected areas of the peony bush should be removed and burned to prevent infection of the rest of the plants in the flower bed. Then, as a preventive measure, treat the plant and the soil around it with a solution of copper sulphate or garlic water.
Powdery mildew
A much rarer disease affecting peonies is powdery mildew. The first sign of this fungal disease is a whitish coating on the surface of the leaves.To get rid of it, you need to prepare a solution with 10 liters of water, 200 grams of grated laundry soap and 20 grams of copper sulfate.
Main varieties and types
Each gardener will be able to choose the kind he likes at his discretion.
Not dual
For non-double varieties of peonies, the arrangement of large petals in one or two rows is characteristic. The central parts of the flowers are dotted with numerous stamens. The leaf plates of a plant can have a decorative wavy structure.
Popular varieties of these plants are Golden Glow and Nadia.
Semi-double
The flowers of semi-double peonies are large and light at the same time. The arrangement of the stamens is chaotic - not only in the middle of the flower, but also between its petals, located in most cases in seven rows. Varieties of the strain include An Berry Cousins and Miss America.
Japanese
In Japanese varieties, the petals are arranged in one or more rows. The stamens are located in the upper part and have a modified shape, all together they are formed in the form of a pompom. Famous Japanese varieties are hot chocolate with brown flowers and carrara with snow-white flowers.
anemoid
It is a cross between the Japanese and terry varieties. In the lower part of the plant there are large rounded petals that form two rows. Representatives of this variety are the Rhapsody variety with a two-color color (with a pink edge and a creamy yellowish in the center) and Snow Mantin with soft cream flowers.
Terri
Terry varieties are also represented by a large variety.
bomb shaped
Bomb-shaped peonies have firm stems and lush inflorescences. The color of these flowers is uniform, without overflow.
Hemispherical
The horizontally oriented petals are in the form of a hemisphere. In this plant variety, the dark foliage contrasts with the light and delicate flowers.
Spherical
Spherical flowers reach 25 centimeters in diameter. They have a rich, even color that won't fade in the sun.
Pink
The flower resembles a rose due to the characteristic structure and arrangement of the petals. Popular varieties are Ballerina, Solange, Goody and Henry Boxstock.
Crown
There is also a large selection of crown varieties.
Spherical
They have three levels. In the middle and below, the petals are arranged in a row.
Hemispherical
They are distinguished by a three-tier arrangement of uniformly colored petals. Popular varieties: Aritina Nozen Glory and Nancy.
In landscaping
In landscape design, herbaceous varieties of peonies are mainly planted near filigree arches or swings in cozy courtyards. Looks spectacular on neatly trimmed lawns. These plants are associated with garden geraniums, white tansy, millefleur, catnip, lily, foxglove, miscanthus, aster and violet.