Peonies require special attention in winter. Many people think that since the plants have already bloomed, they can forget about them until spring. Meanwhile, right now it is worth devoting some attention to them. This simple procedure will save them and make them bloom beautifully in the future.
Peonies are considered plants that tolerate frost quite well. Despite this, they need our care. This is especially important when, after a rather warm start, sudden frosts appear. Then young buds and roots may freeze. As a result, our plants will not bloom spectacularly in spring.
In addition, freezing rain can be problematic as it causes parts of plants to rot underground. Therefore December is the last moment to use natural covers and protect peonies against unfavorable conditions. It is best to cover plants on a dry day when there has been no rainfall for the last few days.
However, it is important that before we cover our peony, we perform a certain procedure that is very important. This means removing all the leaves of the plant. This is important because leaving them could favor the development of fungal diseaseswhich can ultimately lead to the destruction of the plant.
Therefore, you should cut the peony leaves low to the ground using a sharp pruner, making sure that we will not leave any remnants of leaf petioleswhich most often cause infections during the winter. However, remember not to leave the leaves we cut on the flowerbed.
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After cutting the leaves, we can start covering the peonies. It is best to use natural materials that will provide the plant with great protection in winter. It is worth choosing those that do not cause brewing. Coniferous tree branches, garden bark and leaves are ideal. They will effectively allow you to maintain the ideal temperature for plants in an ecological way.
All you need to do is spread a layer of dry leaves around the peony tree at a height of about 15 cm. Then we cover them with coniferous tree branches to protect them against wind and excess moisture. If you have garden bark on hand, it is a good idea to sprinkle it on top as additional insulation.
Thanks to this simple and ecological method, we will protect the plant against difficult winter conditions and in return, it will reward you with impressive, colorful ones when warmer days come.
