Paeonia Suffruticosa Cultivation
- 1). Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost over the planting area. Make the planting area 3 to 4 feet wide for each plant. Work the compost into the top 8 to 12 inches of the soil using a garden fork. Space Paeonia suffruticosa at least 4 feet away from other shrubs and landscape trees to allow enough space between plants.
- 2). Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches wider and as deep as the root ball of the peony. Remove the root ball from the nursery pot or plastic wrapping. Place the roots into the hole with the base of the stem level with the soil. Fill in under and around the roots, pressing the soil down as you go.
- 3). Water the soil around the root ball within six hours of planting the tree peony until the area is damp to the depth of the planting hole. Then, apply water once a week through the spring, soaking the soil to the depth of the planting hole at each watering. When more than 1 inch of rain falls within a week, postpone watering until the following week.
- 4). Water every two to three weeks during the summer, allowing the area around the roots to dry out slightly after each water application. Switch to the summer watering schedule when the first blooms begin to emerge.
- 5). Clip off the flowers as they begin to fade. Use a pair of sharp pruning shears and clip the flower heads off just below where they attach to the stalk. Removing the spent flowers encourages more blossoms to form through the season. Remove dead wood and any suckers that form around the base of the trunk in the spring. Fall pruning is not necessary, but if the peony tree is growing too large, prune in the fall to maintain shape and size.
- 6). Fertilize beginning in the third year using a fertilizer that has a low nitrogen content. A 5-10-10 formula is suitable. Check the package for application method and amount per peony tree.
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