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YARD AND GARDEN

Plant spring flowers early

If I could have just one spring flower, it would be the peony. It produces great flowers that run the gamut from white to yellow to pink to purple and red. Some are lightly fragrant while others can be overpowering.

Some peonies start blooming the first of May in central Illinois, while others are usually referred to as Memorial Day flowers.

The newer hybrid peonies tend to have one flower per stem, which means plants are less likely to fall over after a rain. The old-fashioned estate peonies tend to act as sponges and end up on the ground.

David Robson

Peonies are essentially pest-free. There will be ants around, but they're attracted to the high sugar content in the buds and flowers and that's all. Some diseases will damage the leaves, but most won't kill the plants. As long as you remove the foliage from the area in the fall after it's been nipped by frost you shouldn't have to worry much about disease problems.

When you think of spring bloomers such as peonies, tulips and daffodils, you usually think of planting them in October and November. However, while you may be guaranteed success, you may not be getting the best blooms possible.

Research tends to show that early planting tends to promote better blooms.

Peonies, for example, develop larger plants and bigger flowers if planted in early September. While it is most likely that you'll notice the plant's foliage will wilt, collapse and cause you to think you've killed the plants, the roots will continue to grow and develop properly. That, in turn, will mean a healthier plant with better blooms.

The old saying goes that peonies need to be lifted and divided every 100 years. Not 10. Not five. Not 20. Every 100 years. Most of the time we don't need to do anything to them.

This essentially means you don't have to move them unless you want to increase their number, amend the soil, move them to a different spot or plant a new bed.

Of course, if you buy peonies at a local store or through the mail, plant them as soon as possible. They should have been ordered by now. If not, call and ask for immediate shipment.

Now, let me state that if you plant the peonies in October or November, they'll probably still live — they may even bloom. And you might not even notice any difference. Still, you want to encourage as much root growth as possible before the ground starts freezing.

The good quality peonies sold will have three or more pips, eyes or little pink shoots on each piece. These divisions will adapt quickly and may even bloom for you next spring. When dividing your own peonies, after carefully lifting them from the soil, make sure each piece has at least three of these eyes. If each piece has four or five eyes, so much the better.

Do not move peonies without dividing them. The division tends to help the plant establish quickly and bloom.

These eyes go up. If you plant them upside down, your plant will die.

Peonies need full sun and no root competition for maximum growth. The soil should be loose, well drained with lots of organic matter added.

Plant the peonies no deeper than two inches. The little pink shoots should be one to two inches beneath the soil. If they're deeper, they may produce a bloom, but will more than likely just produce foliage. Over time, the plant will push itself to the correct depth, but you'll be missing the blooms all those years.

Early planting also makes sure there is less winter injury if the ground freezes early, or if there are lots of freezes and thaws throughout the winter, which will damage tender roots.

Water thoroughly, and then mulch with some bark, shredded leaves or compost.

It's not necessary to fertilize the plants until next spring as growth starts emerging. In fact, fall fertilizing may promote growth that you don't want.

If you can't plant the peonies right away, store them in moist peat moss and place in a plastic bag for several weeks before planting. Store the tubers in a cool basement or refrigerator.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, University of Illinois Extension. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708.
Telephone: (217) 782-6515.
E-Mail: robsond@mail.aces.uiuc.edu

16 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING SEPTEMBER 1999