Where do I plant a Peony ?

Discussion in 'Trees, Shrubs and Roses' started by toni, Jun 7, 2010.

  1. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    I found a Peony on the sale table for $5 and since I have never grown one, I figured at that price I would give it a try.

    Now......where do I plant it? :rolleyes:
    I have the corner where two fence panels meet that I think would be perfect but it only gets about 4 hours of sun a day, late morning to early afternoon. In our extremely hot sun I think that would probably be all it could handle down here, right?

    I have no idea what variety or color since it wasn't tagged, just a label on the pot.
     
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  3. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    I think that spot sounds good Toni :D
     
  4. daisybeans

    daisybeans Hardy Maple

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    Netty do you find peonies to be heat/sun tolerant or do they prefer to be a little cooler?
     
  5. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    They seem quite heat/sun tolerant here in zone 5a Daisybeans. I'm not too sure how heat tolerant they will be in the heat of Texas. I think 4 hours of Texas sun is about all they can handle.
     



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  6. bsewnsew

    bsewnsew Hardy Maple

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    being your in texas, that corner would probably benefit them.
    Good luck

    b
     
  7. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    Toni, I think the place that you described sounds pretty good.

    A tip or two that I have learned through my experience with these lovely plants:
    --Do not plant your Peony too deep. When you put it into the ground, be absolutely sure that the level of the plant's root clod is NOT under the soil level of the ground in which you are planting it. Peonies planted too deeply will not bloom for you.

    --Peonies love clay ground, If you do not have this, then dig a hole and fill it with some good compost and mix some calcium pellets with it (they really like this).

    --You only have to feed them every couple of years. Then use dried cow manure pellets and a sprinkle of calcium beads.

    --If you mulch this plant in the winter be sure not to make it any thicker than 7 cm.
     
  8. bsewnsew

    bsewnsew Hardy Maple

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    cow pies are popular
     
  9. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Thanks all for the information. I like the idea of that part-shady corner and figured it would be best considering our summers.

    Sjoerd, clay soil is what I have so it should fall in love with my yard. I have mulch on the garden year round, helps keep the soil moist during the summer. Does it need cold winters to keep it coming back, is that the reason for the shallow depth of mulch in winter? And I will be careful about how deep I plant it, thanks for letting me know about that.

    I'm guessing it's too late to hope for blooms but maybe by this time next year I will know what color the blooms are ;)
     
  10. bsewnsew

    bsewnsew Hardy Maple

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  11. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    AS far as I knowe Toni, it does not NEED cold winters per se to keep coming back.
    There seems to be a relationship with depth and something internal in the genetic make-up of the peony that deepness determines if the plant will develop and send up bloom stems.
    When I had mine and transplanted them, I actually planted them so that the level of the plant when in the new hole--stuck out about the width of a finger above the existing soil level of the garden.
    I think that it probably is too late in the season to expect a bloom, but you never know...a little sprinkle of potash or bone meal scratched in might stimulate something.

    Good luck!
     

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