What is a garden for, if not for breathtaking plants like these? This is my favorite flower, as it is many peoples', with no exceptions or close seconds. If you think the word flower should come with a picture of a peony next to it in the dictionary, let me know and we'll start a club. They can't be matched in fragrance, beauty or foliage, by even the noble rose. Now that I have that off my chest lets talk about these hard and fast rules-These are genteel ladies, like grandma, so don't bounce them around your yard like Katy Perry's cha-chas. Once grandma is seated you don't ask her to try out every other chair, so don't ask your peonies to try every spot in your yard. It could take years before you see blooms if you do. Here's what to check first to be sure they're in the best spot --Sun. They need at least 6 hours a day. Get out your SunStick and measure please, unless you have solar superpowers that tell you where the sun is at all times in your yard. And don't even believe the hype on the tag-they don't bloom in shade no matter what the grower says to the contrary. Next, you might want to check your pH, as the best growth occurs within a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5, with a deep layer of rich organic matter. Peonies will tolerate a large range of soil types, but not wet feet, tree roots or sand. Resist the temptation to tuck them lower in the soil than they are already planted in their pot-they like to be covered with no more than 2 inches soil. If you see brown spots on the leaves in midsummer you probably have a fungus. Buy a spray from your local nursery center, after taking in a leaf for them to confirm the diagnosis. Don't bother asking for a diagnosis at a big box store-or you could end up treating your squirrels for memory loss. And that's just a waste of time. Remember to stake peonies with hoops early in spring or they'll land in the dirt during a rainstorm and this is very sad. We will have to call the plant police on you. Once you get them started though, they will bloom for generations, reliably and regally.
Plumstone 