Preparing peonies for winter: when and how to cut, shelter and processing rules

Proper preparation of peonies for the beginning of winter is of great importance. This culture is vulnerable to low temperatures. Therefore, it must be covered. Before this, high-quality pruning is carried out, which will help to avoid rotting of the stems and leaves. Equally important is the timely application of fertilizers. In order for the plant to easily endure even the most severe frosts, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of experienced flower growers.

Cutting

This procedure is important when preparing peonies for frost. It has features that you should definitely consider.

Timing

After flowering, it is recommended to cut only fading buds. At the same time, the leaves continue to perform decorative functions. Until the very cold weather, the development of the roots of culture continues. Thanks to photosynthesis, which actively occurs in the leaves, this process is activated.

Therefore, it is recommended to cut the greens only after the natural cessation of the development of the root system. It is best to do this after the first frost, which leads to leaf fall.

If there is a need for earlier pruning, it is recommended to leave a few leaves on the stem. This will ensure the full assimilation of useful elements and the continuation of the process of photosynthesis. Depending on weather conditions, pruning is carried out in September-October.

How to trim

To properly cut off the excess, it is recommended to take into account the type of peony and the objectives of the procedure.

Regular

Pruning of drooping stems is carried out "under zero". Leave 2-3 centimeters above the ground. The cut fragments are removed from the garden and burned. This will help to cope with fungal microorganisms, diseases and harmful insects.

Tree-like

This species of peonies does not die off stems. They just drop leaves. In warm regions, this variety of plants tolerates winter well without shelter. However, young cultures need to be covered with a film or matting. The pruning of such peonies has characteristic features.

Forming

In this case, flower buds are laid on skeletal branches. Therefore, it is recommended to shorten them to the desired length. However, pruning a tree peony is recommended in the spring.

For shrub rejuvenation

This procedure is carried out every 10 years. It helps to update the shoots. It is not recommended to leave hemp more than 5 centimeters. They won't help you get through the winter. With such a cut, there is a risk of slowing down the development of the peony.

Autumn dressing

In order for the peony to survive the winter well and develop better in the spring, fertilizers must be applied in the fall.

Time

Peonies are great at accepting fertilization. This is why fall nutrition is so important. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in September or the first half of October.

Features are typical for the root system of pions. In some places there are thickenings in which useful elements accumulate. The roots of the plant continue to develop in the first half of autumn. That is why additional feeding during this period is so important.

Goals

Timely fertilization allows you to solve the following problems:

get strong and large buds on stems;
make bushes bloom more active;
increase the size of the flowers and make them more saturated;
strengthen the root system and increase its resistance to frost;
make bushes stronger and more powerful.

Composition

To get a strong plant, it is worth using mineral fertilizers. Particularly useful for peonies are preparations containing phosphorus and potassium. However, nitrogen-based products are not recommended.

Ways

There are several methods of fertilization. Feed can be used as a powder or solution.

Dry

Granular fertilizers should be applied in rainy weather. They gradually decompose in the ground and penetrate to the root system. It is recommended to scatter dry dressings in the near-stem circle of crops and embed them a little in the soil.

For peonies, it is recommended to use 15-20 grams of phosphorus and 10-15 grams of potassium. Before fertilizing, the plant should be well watered. When spreading fertilizer, it is important to ensure that it does not touch the neck of the crop.

Liquid

In dry weather, fertilizers are recommended to be mixed with water. The resulting solution is poured over the roots of the plant. For each of the bushes, 1 liter of the product is enough. To get a useful fertilizer, take a feeding tablet on a bucket of water.

How to hide

To avoid freezing peonies in winter, they should definitely be covered. This is especially true for frosty regions with little snow. The growth buds of peonies are located at a depth of 5-6 centimeters. Therefore, cut bushes must be spud.

Put mulch on top. Its layer should be at least 15 centimeters. You can mulch the plant with dry leaves, compost, peat.Spruce branches and compost are also great. Additionally, you can cover the peonies with a layer of snow. It will protect the plant from the cold in severe frosts.

It is strictly forbidden to use cut peony leaves for covering. They attract pests and bacterial microorganisms.

Features of tree peony wintering

In the European territory of the Russian Federation, tree-like peonies can not be covered. They tolerate winter well without it. However, this procedure should be neglected only in quiet places where there is no strong wind.

Young plants should definitely be covered. To do this, use a layer of peat up to 20 centimeters. After processing on top of the crop, it is worth placing an inverted bucket.

Regional differences

Peculiarities of wintering culture directly depend on the climatic features of a particular region.

Siberia

This region is characterized by a sharply continental climate with long winters and severe frosts. Therefore, peonies must be covered. Place boxes or boxes on top of the mulch. You can also make a kind of hut from spruce branches.

Ural

The Urals are also characterized by severe frosts and sudden temperature changes. Because peonies need the same shelter as in Siberia.

Volga region

This region has a temperate continental climate. Therefore, for peonies, it is recommended to make a mound of any material for mulch. Such a measure will help protect the plant from exposure to low temperatures.

Medium lane

In the Moscow region and the Leningrad region, frosts come after October 20th.At this point, be sure to cut off the above-ground part of the plants. The temperature fluctuations characteristic of this region require the shelter of the culture. To do this, you can use dry peat, spruce branches, jute bags.

Typical fall care mistakes

A common mistake novice gardeners make is neglecting autumn pruning. As a result, the plant becomes very weak and more likely to become infected with infectious diseases.

Pruning too early

If the stems and leaves are cut early, this will lead to a significant weakening of the culture. As a result, the root system cannot fully develop.

The withered leaves are not removed in autumn

After pruning peonies, it is forbidden to use their leaves to shelter the crop. As a result, pests and bacteria will survive the winter and get stronger, which will lead to crop damage.

No feeding

If mineral fertilizers are not applied in time, the culture will not be able to fully develop. A common mistake is also considered the use of liquid top dressing during the rains. They cannot be fully absorbed by plants.

Wrong cover

If the plant is not properly covered, it may not tolerate frost. As a result, the culture will simply die.

A few words about digging

Digging up the roots of a plant is worth taking into account climatic conditions. In some cases, this can be successfully done in early October. However, it is better to complete the work by mid-September. Before starting the procedure with a culture, it is recommended to cut the leaves. After that, the plant is dug in at a distance of 25 centimeters.

To safely extract the roots, you need to immerse the shovel as deep as possible into the ground, and then gently lift the plant. Then the peony should be cleaned of clods of earth, rinse the roots under the hose and begin the division process .

To begin with, it is recommended to carefully study the condition of the roots. Affected fragments should be removed. The rest of the items can be saved. It is recommended to separate the young root from the main rhizome. To do this, you can use a small hatchet or pruner. The cut area should be rubbed with charcoal. This will help prevent the development of fungal diseases.

During the period of storage of the roots, it is important to maintain the optimum temperature. It should be 2-4 degrees. You can keep the roots in wooden boxes. They are placed in the basement or on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Planting material should be covered with ash and sawdust.

In some cases, the kidneys begin to swell in winter. At the same time, small suction roots appear below. It is not recommended to store them further. The peony should be placed in a pot filled with moist soil and put in a cool place. In the spring, the plant can be transplanted to the site.

Preparing crops for winter is a responsible process. The readiness of the plant for the next season depends on the correctness of the procedures. Therefore, experts advise to carefully study the recommendations and strictly adhere to them.