We Asked Pro Gardeners If You Should Plant Peony Tubers in November—What They Said

Key Points

• The best time to plant peony tubers is in September to October in most areas.

• Peonies can be planted later in the season as long as the soil is workable.

• Covering peony tubers with mulch after planting is key for preventing winter injury.

With their big blooms, rich fragrance, and simple needs, it's no wonder peonies are some of the most popular flowers among home growers. But when exactly should you plant tubers to get the best summer blooms?

In this guide, plant pros share their top tips on how to plant peonies and encourage new plants to bloom their best.

Meet the Expert

• Ken Johnson is a horticulture educator at the University of Illinois.

• Laura Kubes is the co-owner of Hidden Springs Peony Farm, based in Minnesota.

• Matthew McKernan is a consumer horticulture extension associate at Kansas State University.

The Best Time to Plant Peony Tubers

Potted peony plants are typically planted either after the last frost of spring or several weeks before frosts are expected in fall. However, if you're working with bare peony tubers, it's generally best to get them planted in autumn.

"Typically, it's best to plant bare-root peonies in the fall—sometime between September and October," says Ken Johnson of the University of Illinois.

Of course, planting timelines vary depending on where you live and your specific growing zone.

If you live in a cool area, November is usually a little late for planting peony tubers. But just because you missed this planting window, doesn't mean you can't still get your peonies in the ground.

"Depending on your location and what temperatures look like where you live, you may be able to plant peonies in November," Johnson says, particularly of zones 7 through 9.

In colder areas, late planting may not give peonies enough time to establish and can make plants more vulnerable to winter damage. That said, as long as the soil is workable in your garden, you should still be able to plant peony tubers if you cover them with mulch when you're done.

"Fall is really one of the best times to plant peony roots because it gives them more time to establish," says Laura Kubes of Hidden Springs Peony Farm. "With proper planting depth, good drainage, and a little winter protection, your roots should settle in well before the growing season starts."

How to Plant Peony Tubers Like a Pro

The best location for growing peonies is one with rich, well-draining soil and plenty of sun. Planting the tubers themselves is a relatively easy process as long as you follow a few simple steps.

Prepare the Soil

Before planting peonies, remove any weeds and dig the soil to a depth of 12 to 18-inches.

Then, blend a healthy helping of compost or aged manure into the excavated soil to add in nutrients. This is especially important if your soil is heavy with clay or loaded with sand and struggling with drainage problems.

If your planting area was covered with weeds or grass, be sure to remove these unwanted plants as best as you can to keep them from competing with your peonies later on.

Plant at Proper Depth

Potted peonies should be planted at the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots. Peony tubers are a bit different.

"When planting tubers, pay close attention to where the 'eyes' or buds on the plant roots are located," says Matthew McKernan of Kansas State University. "These pink, peony 'eyes' should be planted about 1-inch below the soil surface in most areas."

In chilly zones 2 through 5, you can plant tubers up to 2 inches deep; however, it's important not to plant them any deeper.

"Planting peonies too deeply is the most common mistake gardeners make," McKernan says. "If the peony buds are planted more than 2 inches deep, flowering may be delayed or completely prevented."

Water Well

As with other new plantings, peony tubers should be watered regularly until the ground freezes.

"The soil should remain lightly moist but never soggy or waterlogged," Kubes says. "Even as temperatures cool, newly planted tubers need that extra moisture."

If you live in a cold region, you can stop watering peonies when the ground freezes solid and start watering again when the weather warms in spring.

These plants typically need about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season and water should be directed at the roots as much as possible to keep peony leaves dry and mildew-free.

Fertilize

Working compost or aged manure into the soil before planting tubers will give peonies fuel for future growth, but to get the best blooms you'll also want to feed established peonies twice a year.

"This typically occurs once in the spring shortly before new growth appears, and then again in the fall after the plants have been cut back for the season," McKernan says.

Many balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizers work well on peonies. However, applying fertilizers in the wrong way can cause damage.

"Don't apply fertilizer directly to the center to peony plants," McKernan warns. "Instead, apply it in a band from 8 to 18 inches out from the center of the plant and then water the fertilizer in so that the plant can take it up."

Mulch

Mulch helps keep weeds down and maintain soil moisture levels, but it's also critical for preventing frost heaving and tuber damage—especially if you plant peonies late in the season.

"In colder growing zones, a layer of mulch can help protect newly planted peony roots during their first winter," says Kubes. "Just remember to remove thick layers of mulch very early in spring before new peony growth begins."

You can use straw, wood mulch, or pine needles as mulch depending on what you have available, but McKernan advises against using leaf mulch as it can mat down into thick layers. Simply spread the mulch out in 2 to 4-inch deep layers and leave it in place through winter.

Read the original article on The Spruce