Transplanting a herbaceous peony to a new location: timing, instructions

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The flowering period of peonies is a wonderful time for any garden, regardless of whether there is just one bush or a collection with many varieties. This culture is distinguished by its richness of colors and lush flowering, but in order to maintain the luxurious appearance of the shrub for many years, you need to know exactly when to replant peonies and how to care for them annually.

Peonies grow in one place for over 20 years

Why is a transplant needed?

The best period for replanting is autumn

One of the features of peonies is their fragile, deep-lying root system. Therefore, culture transplantation is painful. After this procedure, the divisions take a long time to recover, and often begin to bloom only after 2-3 years.

It is important to know when to repot peonies and how to do it carefully while minimizing stress to the plants. It is impossible to do without this procedure. Upon reaching the age of 6-7 years, the bushes begin to produce less lush flowering, the flowers become smaller. Sometimes they stop appearing altogether. This is explained by the fact that the roots thicken and suffer from nutrient deficiency.

Thickening of the root system

The root system of an adult plant looks like a dense plexus of thick roots forming nodes. They are often empty and rotten on the inside. Underground parts often become a haven for rodents, which make passages and burrows inside. As a result, root growth slows down significantly, and the green mass stops developing, not receiving sufficient nutrition.

Important! Old bushes lose strength, do not reproduce, and therefore lose the ability to throw out buds. Flowering stops altogether or becomes scarce.

When the root system thickens and the crop stays in the same place for a long time, soil depletion occurs. Plants begin to suffer from a deficiency of essential microelements.

Fertilizing, which is usually applied to young bushes during planting, lasts for several years. Then the peonies are fertilized every year, but this does not allow them to fully satisfy their needs for nutrients, since the crop receives the bulk of them from the soil.

The root system of peonies is located deep under the surface of the earth, does not spread to the sides, and the fertile layer lies at a depth of about 20 cm. Therefore, the roots cannot absorb the required amount of microelements, the plants do not have enough strength for active growth and frequent flowering.

Separation

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The rhizomes of powerful old bushes are tightly intertwined. Therefore, when dividing, they are first measured approximately so that there are 3-5 buds on the segments. Bushes that are too overgrown are divided by driving a wedge into the center of the coma. They work with the roots carefully, despite their impressive appearance they are quite fragile. They try not to cut off such a fragment where there are many buds and few roots. The plant will not be able to fully feed due to the small volume of the root system.

Adhere to the requirements for healthy divisions:

• root length – 8-15 cm;
• there are at least 3-4 buds, but no more than 6-8;
• 3-5 thin shoots extend from the rhizome, up to 8-10 mm thick, up to 4-6 cm long.

The roots are cut with a sharp knife, following the direction from top to bottom. After separation, the sections are reviewed to discard those showing signs of disease or major damage. Rotten roots are cut off, treating fresh surfaces, like the entire lump, with copper-based compounds: Bordeaux mixture, copper oxychloride or other preparations. Then the sections are dusted with wood ash. The planting material dries for 24 hours in a dry, shady corner. To avoid the appearance of rot, rhizomes are disinfected in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. If desired, gardeners treat sections of peony rhizomes in a solution of any growth stimulator, following the instructions for the drug.

Transplanting peonies

Undivided bushes do not take root well, so too old rhizomes are cut out from the central part of the coma. In addition, these parts may be rotten or hollow inside. The sections are also processed. You can also plant small sections of roots that have 1-2 buds. Experienced gardeners do not refuse fragments without buds. If there are small, strong roots, the peony will grow into a flowering bush with proper care in a few years. The buds wake up if the rhizome is in good conditions.

Choosing a new place

Culture does not like strong winds and drafts

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The main requirement that a new site must meet is good lighting. Peonies are a light-loving crop. They can grow in light partial shade. But if they remain in dense shade, for example, from trees or buildings, for at least 1 hour a day, then flowering worsens and the bushes wither.

• The future flower bed with peonies should be ventilated so that the plants are not affected by fungus.
• Close proximity to buildings is not recommended because in the summer heat, brick or concrete walls reflect heat. This may burn the plants.
• And nearby shrubs or trees can deprive peonies of nutrients and water.

Therefore, when deciding when to transplant peonies to another place, it is important to pay attention to the selection of the site. It is better to leave a central place for them in the garden or in a flower bed, so that trees and buildings do not block the bushes from the light.

The crop does not have such high demands on soil composition. She feels comfortable on any garden soil. Drained loamy soil is considered the best option.

Note! Peonies love good moisture, but do not tolerate stagnant moisture. Their root system begins to rot.

The soil for normal root development must be soft, thoroughly and deeply cultivated, otherwise the root system will remain in the top layer of soil. In summer it dries out quickly, which threatens the bushes with a lack of moisture, slower growth, and lack of flowering. If the soil in the new area for peonies is poor, it must be enriched with fertilizers.

Adviсe

For any peony lover, the main problem is poor flowering, although the agricultural technology was carried out correctly.

Causes:

• The wrong place for landing has been chosen
• Old, weakened plants
• Incorrect division
• Excessive recessing of the kidneys during transplantation
• Kidney damage due to late spring frosts
• Pampering of peonies occurs when “overfeeding” with fertilizers
• Increased soil acidity
• Damage to plants by gray rot or late blight
• Lack of moisture, nutrients
• Early pruning of leaves before winter

Features of planting at different times of the year

Healthy and intact suction roots are the key to successful establishment of young plants

How to feed peonies at the dacha in autumn and spring

To determine how to plant peonies and when to do it, you need to have an idea of ​​the characteristics of their root system.

• Its central, most massive part serves as a kind of storehouse for nutrients. It is this that supports the plant during wintering and protects it from the cold.
• Thinner processes extend from it. The density and abundance of flowering bushes depend on their condition, since replacement buds and young stems are formed on these roots. Sprouts in the form of light, thin root shoots are formed in the fall, in September.
• Another important part of the root system is the suction shoots, which can be thought of as a thin web that collects micronutrients and moisture. To avoid damaging it, when planting peonies it is necessary to prepare a wide and deep hole.

To choose the right moment when you can replant peony bushes, you need to know the peculiarities of crop adaptation at different times of the year.

in spring

Transplanting peonies in spring has one significant drawback: it is easy to be late with this work.

With the end of winter, the plants wake up. There is a rapid growth of suction roots. If you start replanting the bush during this period, these roots can be damaged, which threatens the death of the entire plant. It will not receive nutrition and will quickly use up the reserve that has accumulated in the massive central roots.

Important! Bushes that have been transplanted in the spring often become overgrown with a thick green mass. But next winter they do not survive, since over the summer their storehouse of useful substances is used up, and there is not enough for the winter.

If you still replant the bushes after wintering, then this should be done as early as possible, immediately after the snow cover melts, before the plants awaken. By this time, the roots do not have time to wake up. They begin to develop in a new area.

In summer

In June and July, the crop actively grows green mass, and the suction roots have time to grow and gain a foothold in the soil in the spring. Their development slows down, but the roots actively extract moisture and nutrients. When buds form on the bushes, the main forces of the plant are directed to the flowers.

If you replant peonies in the summer, the suction roots will inevitably be damaged and the nutrition of the bushes will deteriorate. In the new area, neither the development of new roots nor the adaptation of old ones occurs. The only source of nutrition is the reserves already made by the plants. But there are not enough of them for wintering, which often leads to the death of peonies.

According to statistics, most bushes transplanted in summer wither within a month

in autumn

In autumn, peonies stop blooming and begin to prepare for winter. The green mass is not growing. Plants store nutrients. Their absorbent roots actively extract nutrients and grow quickly. This period is considered the best time to plant peonies. The bushes are ready to be divided and moved to a new site. The roots are ready for the winter cold.

One month is enough for the culture to take root normally. Before frost sets in, peonies have time to grow suction roots. In the northern regions, planting can be done as early as mid-August. In the middle zone, the optimal time is in September, and in the south it lasts until mid-October.

Note! When replanting bushes in the fall, it is important not to be late.

On average, at the end of September there begins a period of active growth of storage roots, where plants retain a supply of necessary elements. They become denser and more voluminous. The transplant must be carried out before this time, otherwise the bush will not survive the winter.

Optimal timing

If there is a need to change the location of the flower bed, you need to know exactly when it is possible to replant peonies. Spring replanting is carried out by summer residents and other flower lovers, who plant them in clubs near the house or in the country. For this procedure, it is necessary to dig up the bush completely, without dividing it, so that it quickly grows in the area where it will be moved. After wintering, the root system forms shoots that help speed up the process of acclimatization of the bush in the new flower garden, so the flower manages to take root much faster. The procedure for changing a place must be carried out within a certain period. The starting point can be considered the melting of snow and warming up to 5-7 degrees.

The process of transplanting a bush to a new place should be carried out by transferring the roots in an earthen coma where they previously grew

It is very important to dig up the plant very carefully, without damaging the roots. The soil from the old place should remain on the root system, it does not need to be removed

The bush must be moved to a new flowerbed, correctly positioned in the hole, tied up for the first time, then compacted the soil and watered well. Subsequent care for peonies will not differ from the usual procedures required for these flowers.

If it was not possible to transplant in the spring, then this procedure can be done in August. It is this time period that is most suitable for changing the location of the flower bed. The weather at this moment is consistently warm, without the abundance of precipitation that occurs in autumn. The preparation of the pit should be started in the spring so that it is completely ready within six months. Soil for flowers should consist of soil obtained from a dug hole, sand and compost, which are thoroughly mixed together. All this is filled with water. It is recommended to use rainwater that has been previously settled.

Replanting is carried out by digging out the bush with a pitchfork, which will make it possible to carefully remove the roots. This procedure is necessary to safely free the underground part from the soil. If necessary, you need to plant and thin out the bush. For full growth of a new plant, the root must have about 6 buds, which will ensure active growth of the crop after transplantation. Before placing the plant in a new hole, it is thoroughly washed and disinfected.

Replanting in the fall is as common as spring replanting. This is explained by the fact that by the time the work is carried out, the roots have already entered the dormant stage and can more easily withstand all manipulations. This option involves preparing flowers for the next year so that the awakening process begins in a new flowerbed and goes more smoothly. It is the autumn transplant that prepares the peonies so that they bloom in the spring after awakening. The optimal timing would be September and early October, but the exact time frame will depend on the specific region and its weather conditions. The hole in this case is dug during the replanting work. It should not be too deep - 20 cm deep and 40 cm wide will be enough. In case of dense soil, it must be mixed with sand.

To make the replanting process simpler and the bush to grow more actively in the spring, it is worth shortening the shoots by 10-15 cm. Digging here should also be done with a pitchfork to minimize damage to the root system

It is important to retreat about 20 cm from the bush so as not to injure it in any way. As soon as it is possible to remove the peonies, their roots must be washed, disinfected and assessed for damaged, rotten areas and removed

All work is carried out with processed equipment. After the procedure, the roots are dipped in a solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of minutes. Plants are planted shallowly in the ground, this gives a better chance of protecting their roots from rotting and preventing the death of the peony.

Preparing the site for transplantation

How to propagate peonies for planting in spring and autumn

You need to start preparing a flower bed for peonies 2-4 weeks before the planned planting date, so that the soil settles and compacts. Planting pits are prepared for the crop.

• Their width and depth should be about 0.5 m.
• The bottom is thoroughly loosened.
• Before planting, a mixture of humus and garden soil is poured into the hole with the addition of 200 g of superphosphate and 500 g of bone meal.

If the site is located in a lowland, then the flower beds must be raised and a drainage layer must be installed in the planting holes. To do this, they should be deepened by 20 cm and filled with coarse sand and gravel.

Some gardeners use the trench method when planting peonies. When it becomes necessary to transplant a large number of plants, instead of individual holes, they dig trenches 0.5 m wide and deep.

How to dig up peonies correctly

When replanting, it is necessary to preserve the integrity of the massive roots, which retain a supply of nutrients, as well as young root growths containing buds.

Stages of work:

1. Dig up the plant at a distance of 40-50 cm from the outer branches. To do this, use a pitchfork.
2. Take a bayonet shovel and carefully move the lump with the plant, lifting it up. This should be done slowly so as not to injure the fragile root system. You cannot pull it out of the ground by holding onto the branches.
3. Trim the stems so that their length is approximately 10 cm.
4. Rinse the dug up roots with water to understand how to separate them.
5. Leave the planting material to dry for several hours in a shaded place so that the roots become elastic and do not crack.

How to split

Each division must have:

• thick root area;
• several young shoots;
• from 3 to 5 healthy kidneys.

Note! If only one bud remains on the cutting, this does not harm the peony, but its flowering is delayed for several years. If there are too many buds, the root system can weaken.

After pruning, the division must be carefully inspected. It must not be damaged. If there are rotten or dried areas on it, they should be removed.

Sprinkle the cut areas with activated carbon.

Digging and dividing rhizomes

Before transplanting a tree or herbaceous peony bush, you need to find a suitable place, dig and prepare a planting hole. In order for the plant to quickly take root and begin to grow well, it is important to organize the correct division of the root.

Before planting, the dug rhizome is divided into parts with young, light-colored roots, suction roots and several large buds. Damaged, rotten, disease-affected parts are not suitable, they are carefully discarded.

Rhizome division

Before dividing a large bush for replanting, it is inspected for the presence of rot. If everything is in perfect order, the rhizome is broken by hand or cut with a knife. Old overgrown bushes are divided with a shovel. Before planting, the sections are dried and treated with potassium permanganate or ordinary brilliant green. Thin suction roots should be protected from drying out by covering the rhizome with a damp cloth.

If the plant will not be replanted immediately, before planting, the division is soaked in water for half an hour, and the purchased seedlings are placed in a solution of foundationazole or any other suitable antifungal agent. Before planting, tree peony or herbaceous divisions are dipped in liquid clay mash.

Main parts of the division

• Do I need to trim peonies when replanting?

This is recommended because the shoots will take a lot of moisture from the roots. Immature roots cannot yet extract water and nutrients from the soil to provide the perennial with everything it needs. Cut the greens at approximately 15-20 cm from the root collar.

Pruning before winter

Step-by-step instructions for landing in a new place

A rail is placed across the planting hole. It serves as a reference point for measuring the distance to which the buds need to be buried. For tree peonies, they should be located at the same level with the ground surface; for herbaceous varieties, 4 cm is enough. Excessive deepening leads to the fact that the crop does not flower, and insufficient deepening leads to freezing in winter.

Peonies should be planted as follows:

1. Focusing on the staff, the seedlings are lowered into the planting hole.
2. Sprinkle it.
3. Water and add soil again.
4. The tree trunk circle is mulched with sawdust or peat.

Further care

Caring for peony seedlings includes several agrotechnical operations:

• Watering. In autumn it is moderate, taking into account precipitation. During the first month after the bush has been transplanted, it is watered no more than 3 times. In spring, water procedures are carried out more often.
• Loosening, weed removal, mulching. By adding a layer of mulch, gardeners reduce moisture evaporation and prevent weeds from appearing.
• Preparing for winter. To insulate the roots, they are sprinkled with a layer of peat, sawdust or spruce branches 15 cm or more thick.
• Prevention. In spring, seedlings are sprayed to protect them from insect attacks and diseases.

If you transplant peonies in the right way, the first flowers will appear on young plants next year. You should not leave them on the bushes so that the peonies do not waste energy and better survive the winter. In the second year, one flower is allowed to bloom. Full flowering begins in the third year.