You don't HAVE to wait but your survival rate will be lower when you move one that has a lot of growth on it. I had to move a few last year for some hardscaping, actually had buds when I dug them up. I lost 2 of 6, probably would've all survived if I could've moved them in the fall or even early spring before they started growing. From my experience, the smaller the rootball, the better the chance that they'll survive the move mid-spring.

Thanks! No reason these can't wait until fall...I actually moved one I purchased a few years ago that was to close to a walnut tree(before I learned what our backyard problem that caused many things to die) we hardscape a as well...and I transplanted the Peony that I had purchased in a nursery. It was barely a plant...poking out of the ground and had never bloomed. Now it is thriving and has several buds.

So since the peonies have buds...do I cut them back in the fall before I move them then? They aren't hurting anything where they are planted...other than they get barely any sun.

When the stems yellow in the fall you can cut them back and transplant, dividing if appropriate. Al

I just moved a budded one about a week ago - moved it into partial shade location, which probably helped. It is doing just fine, looks perfect, no drooping or bud loss. :0)