HOW TO OVERWINTER TREE PEONIES

How to overwinter tree peonies



Tree peonies are an uncommon and usually expensive specimen plant to purchase, however they can be at risk of damage from late frosts in the spring. If you want to get the best display from your tree peonies then it is important that over-winter protection is put in place at the appropriate time.

How to overwinter tree peonies 
Tree peonies are surprisingly winter hardy, even if you suffer from quite harsh weather. However, if you are growing tree peonies in a northern European climate then you can be prone to late frosts and this will be devastating to new growth.

Although replacement growth will emerge later on in the spring the chances are that you would have lost any chance of seeing flowers for that season.

To ensure flowers each and every year it is prudent to provide artificial protection against night frosts prior to the new growth emerging.

A sacking or reed screen can be erected onto a frame of bamboos and placed over the tree peony before nightfall during periods of frost. These can be removed once the frost has been burned off in the morning.

Once the new growth has hardened off the screen can be removed completely until the risk returns the following year.

Position new tree peonies in a site that is shaded from early morning sun as the early blooms can be damaged further if they been subjected to frost. New plants can be grown in any well-drained soil, but any cultivars that are grown on on a grafted rootstock will need to have the union sunk about 3 inches below the surface to protect from freezing conditions.

For related article click onto the following links:
HOW TO GROW PEONIES
HOW TO GROW PEONIES FROM SEED
HOW TO GROW THE TREE PEONY

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