Hi all,

I put four peonies in the middle of winter. It's a month from spring where I live. I have a couple of questions:

1. Two have sprouted and I can see the tips of the leaves coming out. (I am not sure if its because they are growing out or if the soil eroded to the point where the peony is being exposed). Should I cover these back over with the soil or just let them sit there? The other two are still nowhere to be seen. I know they will be growing, though, so should I scrape the top soil away so they are exposed like the other two?

2. The other question is related to birds. They dig around and on top of the peonies like its going out of fashion. My garden looks like a war zone with holes everywhere from constant bird visitation. They especially like the peony area, probably because it looks like bare dirt for them. Anyway, can birds damage the peonies as they dig around them and do people here who have the same problem put netting over their peonies.