Peonies are perennial plants. Flowering pleases 2-3 weeks in June. But even after this period, peony bushes require attention.
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Caring for ornamental shrubs after flowering has its own characteristics. The main stages of care:
- Pruning.
- Watering.
- Loosening and mulching of the soil.
- Top dressing.
- Transplant and reproduction.
Pruning
After shedding flower buds, it is necessary to trim the bare inflorescences to the first healthy leaf. The process of photosynthesis occurs in the leaves, so it is the stems and leaves that are the source of nutrition. Only after the onset of frost, the stems are removed from herbaceous peonies, leaving 2-3 cm hemp.
In tree-like shrubs, the stems cannot be removed, since next year flowering occurs on last year's shoots. Treelike peony varieties are pruned in early April. Pruning is more sanitary - weak and broken branches are removed. When buds appear, excess shoots are removed, which can thicken the peonies.
If the peony bushes grow too much or shade neighboring crops, the crown is cut to the peonies, leaving 2-3 leaves on the branches.
Watering
After a period of flowering until autumn, the culture needs abundant watering. It is quite enough to water each bush with 3 buckets of water once a week. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in the morning or evening. When the summer is cool, watering is carried out once a month. Moisture is needed for the formation of flower buds, renewal, root formation. With the beginning of autumn, watering should be stopped.
Loosening and mulching the soil
Loosening helps to enrich the soil with oxygen, increase its moisture and air permeability. The soil must be loosened to a depth of 6-7 cm so as not to damage the roots near the surface. Loosening is advisable to carry out after each watering.
Mulching helps to retain moisture, control weeds, and keep roots from overheating during hot summers. You can use humus, hay, or sawdust. It is unacceptable to mulch with peat, since these plants do not grow well on peat soils.
Top dressing
2 weeks after the end of flowering, it is advisable to carry out top dressing:
- Mineral - add 15 g of potassium nitrate and 20 g of superphosphate to 1 bush.
- Organic - add 3 liters of mullein solution in water 1:10 to 1 bush.
At the base of the bush, grooves are made for fertilizing.
To improve the decorative qualities of a flower bush and better development of buds, renewal is advisable carry out foliar feeding by spraying from a spray bottle or watering from a watering can of the aboveground part bush. You can use urea (50 g per 10 l of water) or tableted complexes of microelements. Adding nutrients helps the flower bush to grow stronger for the next flowering.
Transplant and reproduction
Once every 5 years in late August or early September, it is necessary to carry out the transplantation procedure, otherwise varietal characteristics disappear and peony flowers become smaller. Strongly overgrown bushes are divided and planted.
Plants at least 5 years old are suitable for reproduction of peonies. Breeding technology:
- Dig in the bush in diameter and loosen it.
- Remove it from the ground, wash the root with water and dry it.
- Cut the rhizome into small pieces.
- Treat the cuts with a solution of potassium permanganate, then sprinkle with charcoal.
- Plant parts of the bush. When planting, the root collar must be positioned 5 cm below the ground.
For the winter, cover young plants with a layer of 12 cm humus mulch.
Peony is an unpretentious culture. Timely care for it after flowering will allow the plant to gain strength and in the new summer season to delight gardeners with the fragrant aroma of magnificent buds.
Do you plant peonies in the garden?
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