When Should Peony Plants Be Split?

Peonies are a beloved plant that can be divided in various ways to ensure their health and robustness. The best time to divide peonies is in late summer or early fall when the plant is dormant, typically after the first frost of the season. This will minimize stress on the plant and ensure that it stays healthy and robust.

When propagating peonies, use a strong knife and cut the roots back to only about 6 inches (15 cm.) from the crown, as the crown grows into the plant. The best time to transplant herbaceous peonies is in September, when they’re past their summer growth and entering winter dormancy. However, it’s also possible to dig and plant the entire root ball in, leaving at least 3 to 5 eyes and a healthy root system on each division. Plant peonies 3-4 feet apart in a container.

Peonies rarely require dividing, but if you want to break a mature plant into several smaller ones or move an existing plant, the work is best done in late summer or early fall. By September, peony plants have been able to store adequate food reserves in their roots for the next year.

Diving peonies in the fall is the best time to divide and transplant peonies. When peonies begin to overtake an area or you find them overtaking, it’s best to wait until fall to divide the plants. Peonies focus on root growth during their fall dormancy, making this the best time for root division. You can divide peonies anytime they are dormant, from November to March, but the best time is in early March, just as the thick, red shoots are growing.

Peonies can be successfully taken up and replanted at any season of the year, with the most favorable time for their re-establishment being in late summer and early spring.