Attractive Bouquets and Arrangements of Peony Flowers for the Occasion

When seeding Peony Flowers every time they are obtained, being careful to set the division so the top of the buds might be from 1-1/2 to 2 inches underneath the final soil grade after the plants are properly watered and have completed settling. If grown too deep you will likely obtain pretty leaves with some or no blooms, and if too shallow, the buds will be exposed and are likely to get broken off by Old Shep when he serves notice on a stray cat or rabbit.

You should assume blooms from 3 to 5 eye sections the very first season. Just 7 of the 60 types I grown in my backyard not too long ago failed to bloom the first year. The flowers made a splendid display of flowers the third time after seeding.

Searching and dividing large, old peony clumps is no simple job, as most home gardeners have learned. If the freshly-dug clump is left confronted with the air for a while, the roots will become fewer brittle and so are quicker handled without having to break. The soil which is securely held by the roots is best removed with a stream of water from the hose.

Don't basically cut the clump in half and plant the 2 peonies without getting rid of any of the old large roots. Such divisions rely on the old roots for nourishment and rarely bloom. The clump should be cut into smaller sections, generally with through 3 to 5 eyes, some of the older roots eliminated and the others reduced to about 6 inches. This process energizes the production of new roots which increases the plant's vigor and efficiency. A stout butcher knife and a hammer are great division tools.

Established plants may be fertilized in early spring with a handful of balanced plant food used in a ring about each plant and stirred into the soil.

To Maintain Color

Most peony flowers fade in sunshine and if left to open and stand in the sun they lose much of their sensitive elegance. If you wish to use Peony Flowers for display in a flower display or like a bouquet in the home, cut the flowers and let them open in the dark or at least in partial shade. Do not cut stems so long that most of the leaves are taken with the stalk. This could tend to damage the flower.

Peony Flowers that are correctly planted and managed are seldom bothered by ailments. The leaves is hardly ever attacked by insect pests. Plants needs to be very carefully viewed and if any illness takes place the impacted parts needs to be eliminated and ruined.

Root knot, leaf spot and botrytis blight are the 3 most typical ailments. Root knot can be prevented by growing clean, healthy divisions in disease-free soil. New flowers should not be set in an old bed where root knot has happened. If the plants are properly spread, almost no damage is done by leaf spot.

Botrytis blight will probably be the most serious peony illness. It impacts stems, buds and leaves much like in caring for orchid plants. Young stalks in earlier spring suddenly wilt and fall over, and young buds change dark and dry up. Later on, larger buds which become afflicted turn brown and neglect to open up. For control, eliminate and ruin all infected parts every time they seem. Cut off all tops close to the crowns in the fall and burn. If severe pests has occurred before, remove the upper 2 inches of soil around the plants and replace with fresh disease-free soil.