When Are Peonies In Oregon Pruned?

The planting process for peonies involves watering, nutrition, and protection from frost. When pruning peonies, it is essential to follow the method and purpose of pruning. Herbaceous peonies are easy to grow and can be planted in late winter or early spring, typically between February and April, when the soil is workable and the temperature is above freezing. Tree peonies should be pruned in early spring, only removing spent flowers and cutting back not more than a third of the plant.

The most important factor in pruning peonies is timing. If plants are cut back too early, they won’t store as much energy for spring growth and miss out on potential benefits. The best time to prune tree peonies is right after it blooms, but not in the fall like herbaceous or Itoh peonies. Once the blooms fade, the green, shrubby part of the plant is still working.

In late fall, cut all of the herbaceous (bush and Itoh) peony stems down to ground level and remove them from the garden. Hedges can be pruned three times between spring and fall. Renovation pruning is done in late winter to early spring. Do not prune pithy or hollow stemmed plants.

In the fall, cut the browning foliage of herbaceous peonies to the ground after their display of color. The flowering period typically lasts for 2-3 weeks in April and May, and they are wonderful cut flowers. The best time to prune peonies in fall is after the foliage has turned yellow and withered back, typically happening in late October or early November.