Do My Peonies Need To Be Clipped When They Bloom?

Peony pruning is crucial for maintaining plant health and preventing diseases. To achieve lush blooms, remove faded flowers after they bloom and do not leave them on the stems for more than one week. Tree peonies should be pruned in early spring, with spent flowers removed and not more than a third of the plant cut back. Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are easy to grow, but should be cut back in fall after the first frost. Dead and decaying foliage can be removed in spring.

Ponies should not be moved or transplanted after they bloom, as they use sunlight to feed their roots. The leaves should be green, as they are still using sunlight to feed the roots. The best time to prune tree peonies is right after they bloom, as they will open up within a day or two and last much longer.

Peonies should be cut when they are not in bloom, as the flower fades quickly. Early morning is always the best time to cut if possible, as they will open up within a day or two and last much longer. The ideal time to cut peony flowers is when the buds are in the “marshmallow” stage, which means they are soft to the touch but not yet open. Herbaceous peonies should be cut back in fall between October and November, after the first frost and when the foliage has died back naturally.

Perennials take up energy, so it is important to wait until the plant dies down on its own or loses color before clearing the foliage in the dormant season. Removing the main bloom that has faded allows smaller side blooms to receive all the root’s energy and bloom faster, keeping the flowers healthy and vibrant.