July marks a crucial time for peonies: it’s when you should remove faded blooms, help the bushes recover, and ensure they will once again delight with lush flowers and rich fragrance next year.
Peonies.
The blooming season for peonies is gradually coming to a close. Vibrant flowers are giving way to green shoots. However, now is the opportune moment for care that will aid the plants’ recovery and guarantee they will once again provide abundant blossoms and a rich aroma in the upcoming season.
What exactly needs to be done with peonies after they bloom, when the foliage can be trimmed, and why it’s not advisable to rush in cutting back the green shoots—TSN.ua explains.
Pruning peonies in the summer is a quick and simple procedure that involves removing spent flowers. This is done to prevent the plant from developing fruits or forming seeds. If peonies do produce seeds, they will bloom less profusely the following year. Therefore, the primary objective of summer pruning is to ensure they have equally magnificent and striking blooms next year.
When pruning peonies in July, it’s a good idea to remove all unopened buds. If they haven’t bloomed yet, they will merely burden the plant unnecessarily. On the other hand, the time to trim the leaves and stems will not arrive until late August and September.
Pruning Peonies in August and September
The next pruning for peonies can be carried out in late August—when the plant’s foliage turns yellow and loses its attractive appearance. For now, refrain from cutting green leaves, as the plant requires them for the development of a healthy, vibrant bulb. Thus, you should wait until the end of summer to trim the peony’s leaves and stems.
Late August and early September also present the ideal time for transplanting the plant to a new location or for dividing tubers and propagating the flowers. The beginning of autumn is a favorable period for this type of treatment, as the tubers are fully developed, giving us confidence that we will not harm the plant.
We remind you that earlier we wrote about the best times to plant peonies—spring, summer, or autumn.
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