With some simple peony care in spring, you can give plants a head start on the growing season. Heres what you need to do to make sure peonies are good to grow.
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Peony care in spring is pretty straight forward, but necessary to prepare plants for the big blooming season ahead. If you’re like me, one of the things you look forward to most is brushing aside winter mulch and debris to see which plants are poking through the soil. And in many locations, the red shoots of peony plants are one of the earliest signs of spring. Well cover everything you need to do for peonies in spring once you see those first sprouts peeking out of the earth.
Peonies are one of the most beloved flowers for gardens across the northern hemisphere. Their large, lush blooms usher in the spring season with unmistakable beauty and fragrance. But before those showy flowers open up, the very first signs of peony growth happen below ground. So when exactly do the earliest peony shoots first poke up each year?
What to Look for With Peony Shoot Growth
Peonies are herbaceous perennials that die back to the ground every winter in cold climates, then re-sprout the following spring. In zones 3-8 where they are winter hardy, peonies follow a typical pattern of shoot growth
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November – February: Peonies are dormant with no visible growth above ground.
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Late February – Mid March Shoots begin to emerge once soil temperatures reach 40°F
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Mid March – Early April: Shoots are several inches tall and leaflets start opening up.
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April: Shoots reach 6-12 inches tall. Leaves unfurl and flower buds swell.
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May – June Peony flowers bloom in most regions Foliage reaches full size
So you can generally expect those very first peony shoots poking up out of the soil in late winter through early spring, once temperatures start warming up.
What Factors Influence When Peony Shoots Appear
The exact timing of spotting early peony shoots varies slightly depending on climate, location and other factors:
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Warmer Climates: In zones 9-10, shoots may emerge as early as January. In very cold areas, appearance is delayed until late March or even April.
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Soil Temperature: Peonies require consistent soil temps around 40°F before emerging from dormancy. This threshold is reached earlier in warmer zones.
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Sun Exposure: South facing gardens warm up quicker in spring, triggering earlier peony shoot growth. Shady sites delay sprouting.
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Snow Cover: Heavy snow acts as an insulator, keeping soil warmer than bare ground. Where winters are very snowy, shoots often appear as soon as snow melts.
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Variety: Early season peonies tend to send up shoots sooner than mid or late season types. Most modern hybrids also emerge earlier than heirloom varieties.
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Plant Health: Vigorous, healthy peony plants are quick to sprout in spring, while weaker plants are slower.
Clues That Peony Shoots Will Emerge Soon
Want to get a jump start on spotting those very first peony shoots? Here are some clues that emergence is right around the corner:
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Soil temperature several inches down reaches 40°F.
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Frost is out of the ground and soil has thawed.
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Snow has melted around peonies, exposing ground.
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Flower buds are swelling on nearby early spring trees and shrubs.
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Other perennials like daylilies or hostas are sending up shoots.
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Average daily temperatures are rising into the 40s and 50s°F.
Once you notice these signs, keep a close eye out in the garden for little red peony shoots poking up, usually around the outer edges of the plant.
What New Peony Shoots Look Like
Newly emerged peony shoots are easy to recognize. Here’s what to look for:
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Red coloration: The new shoots are tinted reddish-purple from anthocyanin pigments.
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Pointed tips: Shoots emerge with a spear-shaped point before leaves unfurl.
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Single stems: Individual shoots arise separately at first before bushiness develops.
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Low height: Shoots are only a few inches tall initially.
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Surrounding foliage: Shoots arise from the center of last year’s spent foliage.
Caring for New Peony Shoots
Once up, peony shoots need some care and protection to grow into mature plants:
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Remove any remaining winter mulch around shoots so they get sunlight.
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Keep weeds and competing plants away from tender new growth.
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Stake or cage peonies if needed to prevent flopping later when blooms develop.
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Water spring rains are critical for shoot and root growth. Supplement if dry.
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Avoid touching the delicate new shoots, which bruise and break easily.
Peony Shoot Growth Signals Blooms Ahead
The welcome sight of peony shoots in late winter and early spring is your first sign of the garden awakening after winter dormancy. It indicates that blooming season isn’t far behind.
Once shoots leaf out, the next phase of rapid stem elongation and flower bud swelling occurs through spring. Then glorious peony blossoms unfurl by late May in most climates, just 1-2 months after the very first shoots appear.
So celebrate the arrival of peony shoots as a sure promise that winter is over, and you’ll soon be enjoying these classic spring flowers in your garden again. With a little luck and proper care you’ll be cutting fresh peony bouquets before you know it!
Frequently Asked Questions About Peony Shoot Growth
If you’re new to growing peonies, you probably have lots of questions about the appearance and development of their shoots in spring. Here are some common questions:
Why are peony shoots red?
The red pigmentation comes from anthocyanins, compounds plants produce to protect tender new growth from sun exposure and damage. Once leaves unfurl, shoots fade to green.
How long do peony shoots take to emerge?
It takes 4-6 weeks from the first shoots poking up until they are 12+ inches tall and leaves are fully open. Timing varies based on climate and variety.
What do peony shoots look like at first?
Initially peony shoots are just 1-3 inches tall, reddish-purple, with a spear shaped tip before leaves unfurl from buds.
Can peony shoots be damaged by late frost?
Yes, tender new growth can be harmed by hard freezes below 28°F. Cover shoots if frost threatens after they are several inches tall.
Do peonies flower on old or new wood?
Peonies bloom on stems that are one year old – the current season’s growth emerging from buds on the plant’s roots or crown.
When can I cut peony shoots for bouquets?
It’s best to leave peony shoots intact until after flowering is complete, so plants can replenish energy stores in their roots.
Now that you know exactly what to look for and when peony shoots are due to emerge this spring, you can anticipate their arrival and properly care for them as they prepare to bloom. With a little patience, you’ll be rewarded soon enough with glorious flowers.
How to Care for Peonies in Spring
There are several major tasks you need to tackle when caring for peonies in spring to ensure you get plenty of beautiful blooms later in the season. Lets take a look at the to-do items peony lovers need to add to their spring garden checklist:
Clean Up Beds
In cooler climates, peonies are often protected from the cold winter by a thick heap of mulch. The first step of spring maintenance requirements for peony plants is clearing away any mulch or debris around peony shoots to allow them to soak up much needed sunlight.
This is also a great time to weed around peony plants. Often in spring, weeds come in before ornamental plants and peonies can struggle to compete with weeds. Hand weed the area first and never spray herbicides near peony plant crowns or root zones.
If you need extra help, try laying down a few layers of newspaper for weed control before mulching. You can even put newspaper right over the weeds, if they are still small. The paper creates a barrier that blocks weeds from growing through the mulch. Plus, it saves a lot of time and energy weeding. As the season progresses, the newspaper composts back into the soil.
Melting snow and spring rains can leach valuable nutrients from the soil. So figuring out how to fertilize peonies is a necessary step in the spring care process. ( credit: Valeriy_G / Getty s)
Experts recommend a 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 low nitrogen fertilizer to encourage strong roots and exquisite blooms. Liquid fertilizers are best for peonies as they dont like their roots disturbed.Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
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However, you should never spray fertilizer on or too close to the crown of peony plants, as this can cause fertilizer burn and crown rot. For the best results, mix a slow-release fertilizer into the soil 6 to 18 inches (15-46 cm) around the crown of the plant.
If soil has eroded from around your peonies, you can add organic material like homemade compost or composted cow manure around the base of the plant. Just make sure not to pile it too deep or else you risk peonies not blooming.
Caring for peonies in spring also includes prepping them for growth. Since peonies often flop over, especially following a late season snow, many gardeners use stakes or cages to prop up plants. ( credit: PaulMaguire / Getty s)
In early spring, when the plants are still small, place supports around peony sprouts. Its much easier to add supports, like peony rings or tomato cages, now than when peonies are already big and falling over. Adding structure early means plants can simply grow through the supports. Then you can just leave them until fall when its time for pruning peonies.
Though usually problem-free, peonies are susceptible to a fungal disease known as botrytis blight. Fungal spores can overwinter at the base of plants or amongst garden debris. When temperatures and humidity rise in spring, fungus spreads and grows.
To prevent botrytis on peonies, you should remove any diseased foliage from the previous year (if you didnt already remove it in fall) and make sure that mulch doesnt touch peony stems. This can lead to disease later in the season.
Its also a good idea to keep pets and young children away from the delicate young shoots of peony plants in spring. Shoots break easily which can lead to pests, diseases, and even the death of the whole plant.