Peonies are extremely effective garden plants that delight with their beautiful flowers with an intense scent. Perennial specimens are frost-resistant and do not require winter protection. The situation is different for these woody and young specimens.
As mentioned, most peonies become resistant to frost, but it is worth taking care of them in winter they did not freeze and bloomed in full glory in spring. So what should you do?
Before winter, it is necessary to cut their shoots just above the ground. Thanks to this treatment, they will be strong and healthy in spring. However, be careful not to accidentally get rid of reddened buds. It is from them that new stems grow.
In addition, we remove all leaves around the specimens. As for the tree peony, we remove dry, damaged branches and even faded flowers before winter.
In winter, it is worth protecting these plants against the upcoming frosts. To do this, we cover them with a layer of mulch e.g. from bark or straw – these materials will prevent it from freezing, but will also help retain moisture in the ground.
Although peonies are dormant, it is worth making sure the soil is not too dry, especially if it is a cold and dry period. However, remember not to overwater – the plants need a minimum amount of water at this time.
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We cannot fertilize peonies in January. We perform this procedure only in March. Fertilization is needed for the plant to grow vigorously and enter the flowering stage.
It’s worth getting to know the recipe for yeast conditioner now. Yeast affects the development of the root system, thanks to which peonies will have a greater ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Moreover, such fertilizer will prevent diseases of these plant parts.
The quickest way to make peony food is to use unfermented yeast. Just dissolve 100 g of this product, even an expired one, in 10 liters of warm water (preferably rainwater).
We do not need to dilute this conditioner with water. After an hour, we can immediately water the bushes with it. We use this natural fertilizer from March to the end of summer.
There is nothing stopping you from using fermented yeast. In this case pour 100 g of the product with 2 cups of sugar and set aside for 1-2 hours. After this time, add 10 liters of warm water to it. The fertilizer will be ready for use after a week – then the yeast will ferment.
Before watering the peonies, we must dilute the conditioner with water – 1 cup of solution per 10 liters of water. (proportion 1:40). We will also use it for vegetables, shrubs and plants that we have at home and on the balcony.