When Michigan Peonies Should Be Trimmed?

Garden experts advise on pruning and cutting back peonies during the fall season to focus the plant’s energy on growing new roots and foliage before winter arrives. The best time to prune is during late summer to early fall, specifically late August to late September, as this allows roots to establish before the winter freeze.

Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are among the easiest flowering plants to grow, and pruning them properly can benefit next year’s blooms. It takes roughly 60 to 90 days to grow peony from seed indoors and then transplant them to your garden. The best time to prune is early spring, although this may mean sacrificing some flowers in the coming year.

Tree peonies should be pruned right after it blooms, not in the fall like herbaceous or Itoh peonies. 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 the dead foliage and remove spent flowers. If you’re growing a tree peony, pruning can be done in fall or spring. In fall, remove spent flowers and cut back top growth by about a third.

The ideal time to cut peony flowers is when the buds are in the “marshmallow” stage, which means they are soft to the touch but not yet open. Trim the plant to the ground in the fall after the frost, discarding all leaves and stems. The best time to prune a tree peony is spring, before new growth starts, as this will stimulate the shrub to grow back strongly.

In summary, pruning and cutting back peonies is crucial for their long-lasting cut flowers and beautiful indoor and outdoor displays. Gardening experts recommend pruning peonies during the fall season, allowing the plant to focus on new growth before winter arrives.