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The
peony is easy to grow and generally requires very little care. They
don’t need a lot of fertilizer or rich soil. They don’t need to be divided very often. But, at some
point, either because of the desire to propagate a desirable plant, or if the plant stops blooming,
division of the roots will become necessary.
The ideal time for division of the peony is late summer to early fall, when the plant is slowing down
its metabolism and getting ready for winter. Dividing the plant is not a difficult task and success
is not hard to achieve.
By fall the plant looks pretty bedraggled. The foliage is turning brown and yellow as dormancy
approaches.
Begin by trimming the foliage down to within an inch or so of the ground.
Using a shovel, cut down about six to eight inches, approximately three to four inches out from
the outermost stems. Older plants may have to be lifted in sections. Don’t worry, the peony is tough
and can handle the digging.
Lift the plant out of the hole, you will have a fairly large ball of dirt with it.
You will be able to see the eyes protruding from the top of the root at this point. This is what
will grow an bloom next year, so be careful not to damage them.
Carefully knock as much of the dirt off the root at this point. Peony roots are pretty thick and
brittle. Using a shovel, cut the root into sections. Try to get at least three eyes to each
division.
There were only two divisions available in this particular plant. Older plants will yield four,
five or more. The older the plant, the more you will get.
Dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the root system. Place the peony roots in the
hole and pour in a bit of water.
Fill in with dirt, being careful not to plant the roots too deeply. The eyes should be just above
ground level. Too deep planting will inhibit flowering. Water the roots to settle the soil around the
roots and help establish the plants. You may mulch the freshly transplanted roots lightly with shredded
leaves or similiar material the first winter to prevent frost from heaving them out of the ground,
if desired.
The peony can also be divided in the early spring, before growth has begun. I have even successfully
moved them after growth has started, but this should only be done if the plant really needs to be
moved for some reason.
Peony propagation by division is an easy process and a good way to increase the number of plants in
the garden. Care must be taken to not plant the roots too deeply, but that is about the only
consideration in transplanting them. So if the plant has become stingy about its blooming, or you
just want more plants, break out the shovel and dig in!
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