PHOTO: LAURIE BLACK
plantings
o u t d o o r s
P e o n i e s
1
September is the perfect time
to plant or move peonies— and
to answer your questions about
these classic beauties.
by
SUSAN APPLEGET HURST
U
# M y
« neighbor’s
peony blooms
beautifully every
year, but mine nas
only one or two
flowers. What could
be wrong?
Newly planted peonies
take two or three years to
bloom generously. In that
case, you’ll have to be
patient. But if an
established peony isn’t
blooming, there are a few
things you need to check.
First, be sure your peony
receives at least six hours
of direct sun every day.
Has the shade of a
growing tree crept over
your peony? If so, you
may need to move it
(follow the directions for
transplanting on
page
138).
Peonies are heavy
feeders; if yours is
well-established, scratch
low-nitrogen fertilizer
into the soil
6
inches
from the crown of the
plant. Finally, one
common reason for lack
of blooms is that it was
planted too deep—more
than
2
inches below the
soil surface. If the site is
sunny and well-drained,
and fertilizer doesn’t
help, lift the peony,
replant it at the right
depth, and he patient.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS SEPTEMBER 2009 I 3 5
