How to Transplant Peonies

I always seem to have a plant that needs to be moved. Either it’s too close to another or I’m redoing a flower bed and want it in another location. Certain perennials are easy to move, especially if they were recently planted. But established plants can be difficult.

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Peonies are the pinnacle of spring flowers. Can I get an amen?! But have you ever looked at their established roots? Since peonies take a few years before they really begin to settle in fully, transplanting them can be a bit difficult.

Fall is the ideal time to transplant peonies. Why? Peonies go dormant in the fall and have less stress being moved. In my Iowa Zone 5, that time is September. If you're in a southern state, that time would be November.

Here are some tips:

- Start with a well-watered peony.
- Choose the new planting site and have the new hole ready.
- Dig down and pry slightly to break up roots. For established shrubs, dig 18” from the crown of the plant.
- Continue to dig in a circle around the shrub until the roots loosen enough to remove the shrub.
- Place the shrub in the new hole, ensuring the eyes on the crown are at ground level.
- Water the peony in the hole to ensure everything is moistened well.
- Backfill the hole with dirt and tamp slightly.
- Continue to water the transplant until the ground temperature is cold enough for the plant to go dormant.

Transplanting seems scary, and yes, I have lost a few things over the years. But when you need to move a plant, it often works out better than you think!

#gardentip #gardenhint #gardenknowhow #transplanting