Peony Care in Spring: 8 Jobs for Healthier Plants and Bigger Blooms

5. Water the Roots

Spring is rarely as rainy as you think. If the soil turns hard and bone-dry, your peonies are going to feel it fast.

Always stick your trusted finger in the dirt, and if it’s cracker dry a few inches down, pull out the hose. Then run to wash the dirt out from under your nail because, honestly, yuck.

And don’t just sprinkle the surface. That barely helps. You want to soak the soil deeply so the roots get the water where they actually need it.

Quick tip: If you garden out West, you really have to watch them once the heat kicks in. A thirsty peony is a puny peony.

6. Do Not Bury the Crown

I see neighbors bury their peonies in six inches of mulch like they’re covering up a crime scene. A light layer is plenty, but keep it well clear of the crown.

Keep it simple. Keep the area around the crown clear, keep the mulch light, and let the plant breathe.

Pile it too high, and you start asking for trouble. Herbaceous peony eyes should not end up buried too deeply, because peonies often bloom poorly when planted deeper than about 1 to 2 inches below the soil surface.

Heavy mulch can also keep the plant too damp around the base. Then you sit there waiting for flowers that never show because you buried the hardware.

And if you’re thinking about what to plant around your peonies, I wrote an article about the best companion plants and what to avoid crowding them with.

7. Watch for the Rot

Gray mold is a plague of damp garden corners. If I spot a stem looking wilted, blackened, or suspiciously mushy, I cut it out with sharp shears before it spreads any farther. Why give it the run of the place?

If you garden in a wet spot, stay on top of cleanup and airflow early.

Quick tip: If the problem keeps returning, a labeled fungicide can help, but sanitation comes first. Keep your tools clean. A quick wipe with alcohol is just basic hygiene. At least my favorite uncle says so.

8. Thin the Buds

 

You think more buds equal more flowers. Technically they do, but it also means smaller blooms instead of one big showstopper.

Later in spring, once the buds are forming, I pull the side ones off so the main bud gets more of the plant’s energy. It’s a brutal trade, but the math usually holds up. Sacrificing those weak side buds gives you one larger, more dramatic flower.

Making Every Peony Count

And if your peonies are not blooming well no matter what you do, make sure they are getting enough sun. More shade usually means fewer flowers.

Your garden deserves greatness, and frankly, so do you. Just avoid the urge to baby your peonies too much; they prefer a little discipline over your emotional attachment. Treat them like stars, then enjoy the fruits, or rather, the flowers of your very hard work.