Hi Steve! Peonies are pretty forgiving as long as the soil isn't boggy. They can survive and do pretty well in anything from clay to sandy soils so it's kinda hard to mess up. Your idea of adding topsoil to get rid of the depression and create a slight slope sounds like a very good plan. I can tell you from experience though that it's hard to get peonies to the correct depth when planting in a newly topped off bed, they tend to sink and create their own depressions! Another member here, Kousa, advised someone last fall to plant their new peonies so the eyes were at ground level then to mound over them; that way when they sink they won't be too low. I read her advice and followed it on the last of my new peonies last year and will certainly do the same this year, it worked out perfectly.

Most peony sellers don't advise adding anything other than compost when planting roots, say it's not necessary. I wouldn't add anything more than that at planting. And whether you mulch or not is personal preference, I do here just because it's so dry in the Denver area, helps conserve moisture.

Lizin, thanks for your advice. It's reassuring to hear that peonies aren't too fussy about soil. I've been reading a lot on the Web about peonies and, of course, reading too much on the Web can make one neurotic.

I was concerned about the soil settling, so your mounding suggestion sounds like the solution. I'll do it that way and report back.

Thanks,

Steve

I can't take credit for the mounding idea, just followed a suggestion Kousa made! It worked well for me, plan to do the same on my new bed for this fall.