All about growing a tree peony and seasonal flower care

A tree-like peony, which is easy to plant and care for, is a perennial plant native to Southwest China. There are about 40 species in the Peony family. Among amateur gardeners, the cultivation of a herbaceous peony is more common. The tree plant is equally attractive and blooms very profusely. The opened bud can reach a size of 30 cm. The color of the petals is white, pink, purple, salmon, crimson. There are two-color varieties. For the winter, this type of peony sheds its leaves, and in the spring it develops very quickly and increases its green mass.

Choosing a seedling and the best time to plant

The tree-like peony does not like when it is transplanted, therefore it is important to choose the right permanent place for it in advance. The site needs to be protected from the wind, and there should be a lot of free space around the bush. You can plant peonies along paths or near a fence. For active growth, the bush will need a sufficient amount of sunlight: in the shade of trees and other large plants, it may die or stop blooming.

The soil needs air-consuming, nutritious and not acidic. If it is clayey, sand and ash should be added. Peat soil is not suitable; it will have to be completely changed. Sandy soils are diluted with clay. It is advisable to add compost, humus or dolomite flour to provide the plants with nutrients. It is best to avoid humid areas with high groundwater tables. If there are no other options for planting, a thick drainage layer is poured into the pit to avoid rotting of the root system. In spring, bushes can only be planted in May, when the threat of frost has passed.

Growing any plant begins with the choice of planting material. The tree peony is sold with both open and closed root systems. Own-rooted and grafted plants are on sale. When choosing a seedling, you should pay attention to the root system: the grafted peony will have thick and dark roots, similar to carrots. Such a bush blooms in the year of planting. Tree peonies with their own root system are obtained by propagation by layering - their roots are thin and light. You can wait for such a plant to bloom for about 4 years because of its slow growth.

Advice

Vaccinations are best purchased from proven nurseries and landscaping centers, where they are cared for by professionals. Sometimes young plants are sold already with buds.

Autumn planting works well for open-root seedlings. It starts from the end of August and lasts until the beginning of November - it all depends on the climatic conditions and the area where the tree peony is planned to be grown. In the spring, planting such shrubs is undesirable: the plant will begin to build up green mass instead of blooming. The peony will take root for a long time and will be reluctant to develop in a new place. During planting, it is advisable to keep as many white roots as possible. Flowers purchased in containers can be planted throughout the growing season.

Planting a tree peony

Planting stock purchased in the store in early spring can be stored until May. There are two ways to do this. The choice depends on whether the plants are awake or not.

1. Seedlings, if they have not yet started to grow, should be transplanted into containers with a neutral substrate and removed to a dark, cool place, for example, on a balcony or in a cellar. Some gardeners wrap plants with small sprouts in newspapers and put them in the vegetable section of the refrigerator. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the kidneys.
2. The awakened bushes, which have grown to 20 cm, will require other conditions of detention: they are placed on a light windowsill, but watered very limitedly. It is advisable to spray the sprouts with growth and photosynthesis stimulants.

If you do not plan to plant a tree-like peony in a permanent place, you can dig it in in May by choosing a shady place and mulching the ground around. When autumn comes, the plant is dug up and transferred to where it is planned to grow further. After transshipment, the bushes sometimes wither - it's not scary if there are live, not dried buds on the stems. A hole is dug with a diameter and depth of 70 cm. A thick layer of drainage from expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles is placed on the bottom, a little soil mixture is poured on top.

When the seedling is placed in the groove, the roots are gently spread out. The root collar must not be buried: planting is carried out so that it is flush with the ground, otherwise the plant may not bloom. After the pit is covered with the remaining soil, it is crushed a little and watered abundantly. When the soil subsides a little, and the root collar is exposed, the soil should be mulched with sawdust, humus or peat chips. This will help to retain moisture in summer during dry periods, and will serve as additional heating for the peony's root system in winter, making it easier to grow the tree peony. It is not recommended to use pine bark for mulching, as it can be a carrier of various diseases that are dangerous for tree peonies.

Advice

Some experienced gardeners bury glass bottles with the bottom up around the bush, at a distance of 15 cm. They are heated by the sun and transfer heat to the root system, which has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of the plant.

Tree peony care

Growing and caring for a tree peony does not cause any particular difficulties: it is enough just to water it on time and feed it properly. If the weather is hot and dry, then regular abundant watering is necessary, but without waterlogging the soil. In cloudy and rainy weather, for the prevention of fungal diseases, it is recommended to spray the bushes with copper-containing preparations.

With sufficient soil fertility on the site, the first top dressing is performed no earlier than 2 years after planting, usually no more than 3 times per season. The first time it is brought in when the snow begins to melt: 2 tsp are scattered inside the trunk circle. phosphorus-potassium fertilizer... The second time is fertilized during the budding period, using a mixture that contains nitrogen. The last time is after the end of flowering. This usually happens in mid-July. At this time, the plant begins to prepare for the dormant period.

If the soil at the planting site is poor and there are not enough minerals for the proper development of the plant, then a composition with a lower nitrogen content is used, since its excess can cause a fungal disease of the root system - gray rot. You should refrain from feeding with manure and using fertilizers that acidify the soil. Tree peonies do not like pruning, but sick and dead branches should be removed from time to time. For the winter, the bush is not cut off, since flowering occurs on the shoots of last year.

When the tree-like peony begins to bloom, the first blossoming bud is removed. If two buds appear, after they are colored, one is removed, and the other is carefully pierced with a thin wire and is not removed from the bush until it is completely dry. Too hasty removal can damage the growth point, causing the shoot to stop developing. Grafted peonies bloom in the year of planting or the next season, and self-rooted ones - after about 4 years. The number of buds increases with the age of the plant. For the winter, it is better to cover the bush in order to prevent the kidneys from freezing.

So, tree peonies are quite unpretentious plants, the cultivation of which is not difficult.Spring planting is recommended for seedlings with closed root systems. If the bush is not in a container, it is better to dig it in in May on a shaded area in order to transplant it to a permanent place in the fall. Grafted peonies bloom faster, their roots are large and dark, outwardly resembling carrots. Plants obtained as a result of reproduction by layers take root worse and do not bloom for a long time.

It is important to choose the right planting site: it should be light, protected from drafts and not too wet. Caring for the bushes consists of regular watering and feeding. Plants do not like to be pruned, but need to remove diseased and dried shoots. For the winter, it is advisable to cover tree peonies in order to prevent the buds from freezing.