When Do Peonies Get Chopped Down After They Bloom?

Peony pruning is crucial for plant health, as it helps control diseases and maintains the plant’s power for next year’s bloom set. Herbaceous peonies should be pruned in fall after the first hard frost and remove any diseased foliage as soon as they notice it. Dead or diseased stems should be cut back until they reach the first year, resulting in bigger blooms for the plant’s life. After the first year, all pruning needs to be done in spring.

Peony shrubs can be trimmed periodically throughout summer, but it is essential to remove the dying bloom from the plant to keep the bush neat and tidy. Tree peonies should not be cut back to the ground yearly but can be pruned for health and shape after blooming is finished. As soon as flowers begin to fade, hold onto the base of the bloom and cut off the stalk down to the first set of leaves. Trim regularly until all faded blooms have been removed.

It is best to wait until the first frost of the season to cut back peonies, as this is too early. The best time to prune a tree peony is right after it blooms, not after the season’s first hard frost or after the foliage turns yellow. Waiting until the leaves absorb full sun throughout the summer encourages abundant blooms the following season. Pruning can typically occur in October or November.

Peonies can be cut and deadheaded in the spring and summer, but must be cut down in the fall to control disease. It is best to cut peonies in the early morning or late afternoon/evening, as cutting them in the heat of the day will stress them out. The flower fades quickly, so peonies can be cut the next day or two after they have stopped blooming.