July 25, 2012
To keep your peony plants looking great through the summer and fall, clip off tattered leaves and stems. Be sure to take a look at the bottom of the bush and check to see if slugs are hiding in the shade of the stems.
A good drink of water every couple of weeks and they’ll be showing their fall colors in style come September and October. This summer has been plenty hot in most of the states, so an occasional deep watering will be welcome, whereas other years you may have a few good rainfalls and not need to water your established peony plants.
Remember – a potted peony plant needs more frequent watering.
Some folks like to give a bit of fertilizer after bloom season and others never fertilize their peonies in the summer. Some soils are richer in nutrients than others, so feel free to see what works best with your plants in your garden.
I’m already thinking about new varieties we’ll be planting this fall. Gardening & farming bring out my anticipation of nurturing and growing something that will bring joy down the road. I’m scoping out where I want to add peonies in our garden this fall – some of the shrubs will just have to go!
Therese