Should You Trim Your Peonies?

Peonies are perennial plants that require pruning to maintain their health and shape. To prune them, wait until late fall when the plant has died back and cut the stems down to just above the ground. If you have more than one peony, prune it right after it blooms.

For tree peonies, pruning can be done in fall or spring. In fall, remove spent flowers and cut back top growth by about a third. The best time to prune a tree peony is right after it blooms, but do not cut it back in the fall as you would an herbaceous or Itoh peony. Tree peonies do not need pruning, but they can be deadheaded in the spring and summer to control disease.

Pruning peonies involves cutting them down as soon as you spot it on the leaves or a stalk. It helps control it and helps maintain its shape. Tree peonies respond well to pruning, either taking back the top growth by about 1/3 in stages or, if you have a multi-stemmed tree peony, cutting it down in the fall to control disease.

In summary, peonies need pruning to keep them healthy and in shape, as well as to create a sturdy framework for their beautiful blooms. To avoid mistakes and ensure optimal growth and blooms, follow these steps:

1. Cut back spent flowers and cut back top growth by about a third in stages.
2. Remove faded seed heads in autumn, but don’t pick off the foliage.
3. Use clean pruners and avoid cutting and deadheading in the spring and summer.