When Should Peonies’ Leaves Be Clipped Off?

Peony pruning is crucial for plant health, as it helps control diseases and prepare the plant for growth. Herbal peonies benefit most from an autumn haircut, while tree peonies should be mostly left alone. The best time to prune a tree peony is right after it blooms, not in the fall like herbaceous or Itoh peonies. Light pruning can be done in the spring before the shrub blooms, using clean pruners.

The answer to this question depends on what part of the peony you intend to cut back. With peonies, you can remove the flower when in bloom and deadhead once the bloom has faded. It is best to prune your peonies in early spring, just as the new growth starts to emerge, to remove any dead or damaged parts. While herbaceous peonies should be cut back in the fall after the first fall, tree peonies should be mostly left alone. In the fall and early spring, you can remove some leaves and dead branches from tree peonies as necessary.

Peonies should be cut back when they are not in bloom, as the flower fades quickly. Old stems on herbaceous peonies can be removed in late fall after the first frost turns the foliage yellow. You can either cut back the foliage to the ground in late fall/early winter or wait until early spring to remove.

In summary, pruning peonies is essential for maintaining plant health and preventing disease. By removing diseased foliage during the growing season and leaving the plant mostly unpruned, you can encourage healthier growth the following year.