Return to the Peonies Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Can These Peonies be Saved?
| | |
Posted by cottager_sc z8 SC (My Page) on Wed, Dec 10, 08 at 14:56
| I am heartsick! My husband, who thought he was being helpful removing blackened foliage from the flowerbed, massacred my three peonies this weekend by taking the shovel to the poor tubers (which have minded their own business in the same spot, undisturbed for at least 20 years, beautifully blooming each spring--a rarity in itself for Midlands South Carolina). What can I do? Small pieces of tubers, some with one or two eyes, were lying on top of the ground. Should I replant them and hope for the best, or is the damage (to the peonies, not my marriage!) irreparable? Even if they survive, how long does it typically take for blooms to reappear? I have always been careful not to disturb them in the past. (I did not plant them originally, but have lived in the house for ten years and they've done beautifully every year--until now.) |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can These Peonies be Saved?
| | |
| hi, i would prepare some new beds with good rich compost and the light brown peatmoss then plant them in the new beds.if they have bee in same bed for that long they could use a change. they should bloomin 2 or 3 years.Ralfsmom |
RE: Can These Peonies be Saved?
| | |
- Posted by oshenar rainy West Coast z8 (My Page) on
Fri, Dec 12, 08 at 13:08
Your peony colony may be much reduced, but I think all is not lost and you may even still get blooms from the larger sized tuber clumps.
The good thing at least is that they are in their semi-dormant stage and probably at the safest time to be "disturbed and divided", which is what your husband basically did. The smaller clumps will take two to three years to bloom, but the larger clumps sooner. I did that accidentally to my aunt's 30 year old clump (back when I was a newbie busy-body teenage "garden helper"). I thought to treat them like dahlias. My aunt planted the tubers all over and now there are several of this plant around the garden. Some of plants look just as large as the original mother plant in about 5 years time. They do grow and spread fast when "small and young" it seems. So no worries. Just replant them now. Can even give some to friends if you like as you have "tons" of plants now at this point. |
RE: Can These Peonies be Saved?
| | |
| Thanks for the advice (and hope). Upon closer inspection, he only got ONE of the peonies (which got him out of the doghouse much sooner), so I will seize the opportunity to replant them elsewhere and to share with friends! |
|
|
|
|
