Methods For Deadheading Peony After Blooming?

Deadheading peony blooms is the best time to do so, as they fade and start to wilt before the seed pods fully develop. This usually occurs in late spring or early summer. Deadheading peonies after they have flowered ensures that the plant’s energy is directed towards the roots and foliage, which are required for photosynthesis and maintain a tidy, no-fuss look.

Peony plants should be planted in a sunny location, with each individual bloom lasting around 7-10 days. Deadheading peonies is not about forcing them to rebloom but redirecting their energy towards their existing flowers. To do this, gently cup the base of a wilting flower and cut through the stem with pruning shears, only cutting below dead growth and just above healthy leaves growing on the stem.

Make a habit of deadheading your peonies throughout their blooming season, typically from April to June. Deadheading peonies helps improve the appearance of the plant, reduce the likelihood of fungal infections, and channel the plant’s energy back into the roots and leaves, which will improve flowering the following year.

To deadhead spent blooms, follow a clean and sharp pair of pruning shears and follow the stem down from the spent flower head to its nearest growth point. Cuts should be made at a 45-degree angle, slanting away from any remaining leaves. Morris recommends deadheading peonies as soon as the blooms start to fade and the petals begin to fall off. Deadhead spent blooms by pruning the flower back to the first set of leaves, doing this on each bloom.