After the first hard frost in fall, cut back peonies to about 3 inches (8 cm) high or all the way to the ground. Remove dead foliage and debris to prevent pests and diseases overwintering and ensure plant health. Herbaceous peonies, which are easy to grow, will die off once a few hard frosts or a hard freeze hits them. Once this occurs, it’s time to cut your peonies back.
Growing expert Melissa Strauss has the lowdown on pruning for peonies, including tips for caring for other types like Itoh or Tree Peonies. Peony plants should be cut back in fall, after the first frost, when stems have died back naturally. If growers forget to cut back their plants, dead and decaying foliage can be removed in spring.
The best time to prune a tree peony is right after it blooms, not in the fall as with herbaceous or Itoh peonies. Herbaceous peonies should be cut back between October and November, after the first frost and when the foliage has turned yellow. Prune off all leaves and stems down to the soil line and remove all potentially infected debris from your yard.
After the blooming period is over, cut the leaves right after the blooming period is over, as they are the food source for the next year’s blooms. Avoid cutting them back until around late October or early November, after the first frosts when the foliage has turned yellow. Trim stems at or near ground level after a hard frost in the fall and cut to the desired length for your vase or bouquet.
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