Paeony/Peony questions

Jacey53

I have two paeony "Bowl of Beauty" plants. They are about 8 years old and when they come up they are too big for the space they are in. Is it possible to split them? If so, how should i go about this and when is the best time, please.

Also, as the flower heads are growing the ants seem to move in. Is there something on these plants that attracts them?

Can anyone suggest a really bright red variety please?

Thank you

Kay_Peel

The job of dividing paeonies is best done at the end of summer.

Cut a big circle around the plant and lift the whole thing out. It may need two of you. I drag it onto an empty compost bag to work on it.

I take a saw (yes, I said a saw ) and I wash the soil away with plenty of water so that I can see the growth 'eyes'. I cut it into five or six pieces - each piece has plenty of roots and about 8 eyes. I throw away the really woody, worn out old pieces.

The trick is to replant it without planting it too deep. You don't want to submerge the crown. I put a handful of lime in the bottom of the planting hole because my soil is quite acidic. I give the new plants a good washing up bowl of water each.

In late winter I put half a handful of bonemeal around the plant - and that should be that for another 10 years!

There's some sticky stuff on the buds and that stuff attracts ants to the paeony. They soon disappear when the bud break into flower and there's no harm done.

Good luck and don't break your back! :beer:

kimmee

Jacey53 wrote: »

I have two paeony "Bowl of Beauty" plants. They are about 8 years old and when they come up they are too big for the space they are in. Is it possible to split them? If so, how should i go about this and when is the best time, please.

Also, as the flower heads are growing the ants seem to move in. Is there something on these plants that attracts them?

Can anyone suggest a really bright red variety please?

Thank you

Hi Jacey53 - I'm not sure where but I read that peony's don't like to be moved so I don't know if splitting them would be a great idea. If you really need to move them then the best time would be the autumn - take a large rootball and be prepared for them to 'sulk' and possibly not flower the year after, but they should recover eventually.

As for a red variety how about: http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/kitchengarden/cutting-flowers/reds-&-burgundys/paeonia-buckeye-belle/classid.2000007631/

or: http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/paeonia-%C3%97-smouthii-/classid.2000009880/ though to my mind this seems to be more pinkish.

or: http://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/ProductDetails.asp?ProductID=2204

this one is a much better price too! Although I have bought a number of plants from Crocus and although they are a bit pricey they are always well packaged, arrive quickly and are top quality.
HTH