Planting and leaving tree peonies

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

In order for tree peonies to please with lush flowering and paints, it is necessary to plant them correctly and provide further care in the open field.

When to plant

The best time to plant seedlings with an open root system is autumn. Spring planting is only to their detriment, since at this time the plant grows shoots most actively, and the rhizome remains weak.

There are very few suction roots on it, since they are usually formed in early spring at a temperature of + 3 … + 5 ° С. Plants that are planted in spring are lagging behind and do not bloom.

When it is mentioned that a seedling has an open root system, it means that the root is either just open or packed in a bag or burlap with a substrate. Plants that are grown in pots or containers have a closed root system. Such seedlings usually have 1-2 buds.

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Planting pit preparation

For the plant to take root, it is important to provide quality care in the early stages. It is advisable to choose and prepare a site for planting a tree peony in the open field for the spring-summer season.

A hole is dug 1, 5-2 bayonets of a shovel in depth, drainage is poured into its bottom, which can be crushed stone, expanded clay or broken brick. Next, a layer of humus is poured, then a layer of earth.

The tree peony prefers structured, neutral soil and loves to let the roots breathe. If the soil is clayey, it is necessary to add ash or sand, as well as organic fertilizers.

If the soil is sandy, add fertile soil, peat, clay, humus and complex fertilizer containing potassium and phosphorus. If the soil is peaty, you need to change it.

When autumn comes, dig a hole in a prepared place and carefully place the roots of the seedling together with an earthen lump. Then it is necessary to water the plant and cover it with earth, including the root collar, which should be under a layer of soil for the winter.

For the first two years, it is necessary to closely monitor the wintering of the peony, and then it will calmly cope on its own, without any protection. The fact is that the birthplace of the tree peony is the regions of China, where frosts in winter are up to -40 ° C, so frost resistance is inherent in it from the very beginning.

The main condition for a good wintering is dry land under the peony, then the plant easily tolerates any frost. The fear can be caused by a prolonged warm autumn with frequent rains, which often occurs in the south.

A large amount of moisture pushes the plant to grow, but a sharp cold snap becomes destructive - the intercellular membranes rupture, and the peony freezes out. In the rain, it is advisable for young plants to be under a canopy made of any material that is well blown by the wind.

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For the winter, peonies can be covered with buckets or containers of a suitable size, lifting them from the ground to allow air for the plant to pass through. Tall peonies are wrapped in bags and tied so that the wind does not break the shelter.

Adult plants do not need protection. They tend to recover after freezing of the stem and complete cutting in the spring. In China, complete pruning of peonies is practiced every 10 years.

In the case when signs of freezing are noticeable in the spring, there is no need to rush to cut the peony, but wait until June. If active growth is invisible, the shoots are cut off, leaving live buds.

Spring planting

Tree peonies with a closed root system can be planted in April. If a seedling was purchased in February or March, it needs some care. It should be stored in the dark, at a cool temperature and minimal humidity.

You can put it on the loggia or put it in the cellar, since the seedling needs peace before planting in the ground. If the shoot is small and packed in a bag, you can put it in the refrigerator.

Before planting in open ground, it is necessary that the plants, which were in the dark, slowly get used to the sunlight. The landing site should be located on an elevation in the absence of nearby groundwater. The requirements for the planting pit are the same as for the autumn planting.

Planting and transplanting a tree peony

The technology of autumn planting or transplanting of tree seedlings practically does not differ from the technology of planting herbaceous groups of plants. Its essence is to properly prepare both the seedling and the planting site, in determining which the following must be taken into account:

1. There should not be any holes near it, and there should be no accumulations of water in the landing area.
2. Trees, shrubs or any large-sized plants should not grow near it.
3. An area in the shade is not suitable.
4. The soil should have acidity with a pH of 6, 2-6, 8. Drainage soil or loam is ideal.

A distance of at least 70 cm is observed between low-growing seedlings, and from 1 meter between large ones.

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How to plant

Proper planting is essential for the good development of the tree peony. In order for the plant to take root faster, it is advisable to follow these recommendations:

1. The pit is prepared in advance so that the soil settles normally. It is advisable to do this in spring, but you can prepare it 10-14 days before planting.
2. The diameter of the hole depends on the root system of the plant, but it is never less than half a meter. The depth should be 1, 5-2 bayonets of a shovel, drainage must be laid on the bottom with a layer of 15-20 cm, then a nutrient layer and a layer of soil. You need to remember about the distance between plants, which should be at least a meter.
3. The soil in the pit is prepared as described above. Some people add small amounts of bone meal to the soil.
4. If the seedling has buds, they are cut off before planting.
5. The seedling is carefully removed from the container, placed in a pit, the roots are gently straightened. Then the plant is covered with earth, the soil is compacted. It is necessary to cover the root collar with soil slightly below the soil level.
6. The planted peony must be watered abundantly, and the soil around it must be mulched with humus.

If there are few useful elements in the soil, superphosphate may be added.

How to propagate a peony by seed

To reproduce a tree peony with seeds at home, you need a lot of patience, since due to the shape and structure of the seeds, they germinate for a very long time. But seeds from varieties already planted grow a little faster. Instructions for beginners:

1. You need to collect the seeds of already growing peonies on any day from August 15 to September 15 and immediately plant them in a greenhouse to a depth of 5 cm.
2. To accelerate seed germination, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse at +30 ° C during the day and +15 ° C at night.
3. When green shoots appear, the seedlings should be planted in containers with a mixture of sand and soil, kept at a temperature of + 5 … + 8 ° C.
4. With the appearance of leaves on the plants, the temperature should be increased to + 18 … + 20 ° С.
5. Saplings, which are obtained from purchased seeds, are planted in open ground in the last decade of August.

The purchased seeds are first poured with water for three days, then planted in August in a prepared place.

Proper care of a tree peony

Tree peonies require proper planting and proper care in the open field. If you follow all the recommendations, the flowers will delight you with lush buds.

Watering

Should be abundant, but not very frequent. Watering the peony twice a week is enough. In no case should water stagnate at the base of the shrub, otherwise the roots will begin to rot. A tree peony needs them to breathe, so the ground around it must be loosened to a depth of 5 cm.

Top dressing

In early spring, it is advisable to apply nitrogen fertilizers, for example, ammonium nitrate (up to 60 g under a bush), you can dilute ammonia - 2 tablespoons per bucket of water.

At the beginning of budding, the tree peony is fed with nitrophos - 25 g per bucket of water. This amount is sufficient to fertilize two plants.

During flowering, the peony responds well to feeding with wood ash - 2 glasses for each bush. After the end of flowering, 20 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added under each bush.

The tree peony does not need to be fertilized and fed until 3 years of age. In the first years of growth and development, it is quite enough for him what was laid in the pit during planting.

A tree peony at all stages of development (germination, transplantation and planting in open ground) requires special attention to itself and careful care. If everything is done correctly, in full accordance with the instructions and recommendations, providing the plants with regular watering and feeding, they will thank for their care with a wonderful aroma that will fill the garden during flowering. And the stunning ornamental shrubs of tree-like peonies will serve as a bright decoration for even the most modest site.

Summarize

1. Before planting tree peonies, it is worth choosing the time for this and properly preparing the pit.
2. It is important to consider the transplant technology for the plant to take over.
3. Proper care is required after planting.