Time For Peony Trimming: When To Cut Back Peonies For Longer Lasting Plants
You may love peonies, but do you know when to get busy with the snippers? Find out when to cut back peonies, as our expert advice points you in the right direction
With their sweet fragrance and impressive bloom, it is easy to understand why peonies are such a popular choice for the home landscape. Though their flowering period is limited, from spring to early summer, gardeners can expect continued beauty throughout the season. Thick, glossy foliage grows to form dense shrubs, and only a little peony care is needed in order to thrive.
Some tasks, however, should not be ignored. This includes pruning, or cutting back plants, in preparation for winter. This guide aims to discuss how and when to cut back peonies, with a special focus on herbaceous types, so as to ensure their return season after season.
Why You Need to Cut Back Peonies
To better understand when to cut back peonies for winter, growers should first consider the rationale behind the process. Though peony shrubs can be trimmed periodically throughout summer to remove diseased or damaged stems, all foliage should be left in the garden as long as possible.
During this time, plants will continue to absorb light and convert it into much-needed energy, to be used the following season. This stored energy will aid in the growth and development of shrubs in spring, and their overall production of flowers. Although peony pruning is eventually important to long-term health, cutting too soon will rob plants of vital nutrients, often resulting in poor performance.
So if you are worried about when to cut back peony plants, take your time. Proper removal of foliage will also play a major role in garden health. The clipping and removal of all decaying plant matter will greatly help to prevent the spread of disease and their recurrence the following season.
When to Cut Back Peonies
There’s little doubt that cutting back shrubs can be beneficial, but when should you cut back peonies? In most instances, when to cut back peony bushes will be determined by the weather. Plants will begin to yellow and die back to the ground in fall. This should occur naturally and generally coincides with the first hard frost of the season. It is at this time that gardeners can begin to safely cut back the plants.
It is not uncommon for peonies to become messy or look unkempt in late summer. Growers hoping to tidy these beds can make use of light trimming or deadheading peonies to help improve their overall appearance.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our DIY eBook "Bring Your Garden Indoors: 13 DIY Projects For Fall And Winter".
Cutting Back To Control Disease
As noted, cutting back peonies in fall is essential to the control of disease. Infections like botrytis and powdery mildew are most common, each surviving winter amid infected foliage. By cutting and removing all plant matter from the garden, the spread of peony diseases can be prevented.
Treatment of plants and soil with fungicide can further help to control disease, with these growers opting to take a more proactive approach. So in deciding when to cut back peonies, keep a close eye on the overall health of the plant – especially the foliage – because this might turn out to be just as important as seasonality.
Trimming Different Peonies
To this point, we have exclusively discussed the needs of herbaceous peony species. However, care in terms of pruning will vary between different types of peony shrub. How and when to cut back Itoh peonies, for example, will differ. The same can be said of tree peonies, which require very little pruning, if any.
Familiarizing oneself with each peony variety to be grown in your garden will be essential to their overall care. Knowledge is power if you want to be certain that plants are healthy and happy for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Cut Back Peonies Too Much?
Trimming or pruning should always be kept to a minimum during periods of active growth. Though herbaceous peonies will benefit greatly from cutting in fall, other types will require much more care. Excess cutting can be especially detrimental to the health of Itoh peonies and tree peony species.
Can I Cut Back Peonies in the Spring?
Peony plants should be cut back in fall, after the first frost. At this time, stems will have died back naturally. Should growers forget to cut back their plants, dead and decaying foliage can be removed in spring. This should be done before new growth has emerged, with gardeners making certain to avoid damage to roots or developing growth tips.
Tonya Barnett has been gardening for 13 years. Flowers are her passion. She has transformed her backyard into a cut flower garden, which she regularly chronicles on her YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/@tonyawiththeflowers.
- Amy DraissDigital Community Manager
-
Grow A Music Garden: Hit The High Notes By Making Musical Instruments From Nature
Music lovers and gardening lovers can find a natural groove using items growing and resting around them. Find out how easy it is making musical instruments from nature
By Teo Spengler
-
Why You Should Eat Invasive Plants – A Tasty Way To Control Unwanted Species
Eat invasive plants for nutrition and their amazing varied flavors, but be sure to properly identify the plant and know how to eat it.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Tiny Trees For The Holidays: 6 Real Mini Christmas Tree Varieties For Festive Cheer
The best things come in small packages, so they say, and when it comes to spreading holiday cheer, you’ll love these real mini Christmas tree plant types
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Christmas Cactus Watering Guide: How Often To Water Plants For Better Blooms
Discover how often to water a Christmas cactus, how much, and how to avoid under and overwatering for healthy plants that flower reliably over the holidays.
By Bonnie L. Grant
-
Should You Cut Back Roses In The Fall? – When To Prune Your Prized Shrubs For Winter
Discover whether to cut back roses before the onset of winter – or to leave plants alone until spring.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
Propagating A Thanksgiving Cactus: How To Grow More Plants For Free
Effortlessly propagate your Thanksgiving cactus with simple stem cuttings or root division, to create healthy new plants that burst with vibrant blooms year after year.
By Melanie Griffiths
-
Unique Native Shrubs: 7 Natural Winners Every Gardener Should Add To The Landscape
While we know shrubs to be amongst the most reliable plants in our yards, some are naturally more resilient. These gorgeous native shrubs are sure to thrive in your plot
By Teo Spengler
-
How Long Do Mums Last? Plus, How To Make Chrysanthemum Flowers Last Longer
Chrysanthemums have the potential for enduring displays as we enter the quieter months of the year. But how long do mums last? Here’s how to maximize your fall blooms
By Mary Ellen Ellis
-
Repotting A Thanksgiving Cactus: Your Expert Guide For Thriving Plants
Learn how to repot your Thanksgiving cactus to ensure a happy, healthy houseplant filled with glorious blooms for the holiday season.
By Tonya Barnett
-
How Much Humidity Do Orchids Need To Thrive? – Plus Tips To Boost Moisture Levels
Learn how much humidity your orchids need and easy techniques to increase moisture levels for happy and healthy plants with more vibrant blooms.
By Mary Ellen Ellis