I have the opposite problem. I want my buds exposed during the winter, and I keep finding them covered. I wash off the extra soil,usually, this year I am having to haul some away. Al

You didn't say where you were located (i.e. zone). If you have had snow cover for most of the winter they should be ok. You could just put some mulch over them and then pull it away when it warms up a bit more. In the future when planting new peonies in the fall it's always a good idea to put mulch over the top to help prevent heaving. Just be sure to take the mulch off in the spring.

Hey Al, how ya doing? :) I wondered if you were still hanging out on here. I haven't been here for quite some time... :)

Diann

Diann send me an email direct. Al

I'm in zone 6, or zone 7 depending on the source I'm looking at lol. They were covered with leaves thru most of the winter although I would go and remove some from time to time because I thought it may be best for them to breath a little.
I've read so many conflicting things about mulching peonies...some say mulch, others say if you live in the south it's best not to mulch so they can get a chill. The eyes seem to be stretching a bit more, one is ready to pop open and create a stem, but it seems like they are doing it all a bit late. Last spring when I purchased them in containers they had stems and some with buds by now...it's kind of concerning...

Hardly anyone has the growth they had experienced last year.

As far as mulching depends on what you are mulching for. Many mulch the first year to prevent ground heaving. Last year most areas needed to mulch to conserve what moisture was in the ground. If you do mulch remove early if you covered the whole crown. You can cause the clump to rot if you cover it with mulch.