Where Should I Trim My Peonies?

To cut back peonies, wait for the foliage to be finished for the year, then remove the stems cleanly after the first frost. Collect and dispose of the stems and leaves, and add straw or pine needle mulch in cold climates to protect the crowns from extreme temperatures.

Peony diseases can be controlled by removing diseased foliage during the growing season and by cuttin. Herbaceous peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) are easy flowering plants to grow, and mastering the art of pruning in the fall can prevent common issues and promote robust growth for the next spring.

Tree peonies do not need pruning, but the best time to prune them is right after it blooms. After the first hard frost in fall, cut back peonies to about 3 inches (8 cm) high or all the way to the ground. Then remove the dead foliage. Herbaceous peonies should be cut back in fall between October and November, after the first frost and when the foliage has turned brown and died back.

After a hard frost in the fall, cut back peonies to about 3 inches (8 cm) high or all the way to the ground. Be careful not to prune the plant, as it won’t regrow the lost buds. If the plant starts to overtake your garden, you’ll need to wait until autumn/winter when the plant has started to overtake your garden.

To cut back peonies, follow these steps: wait for the foliage to be finished for the year, snip off the stems cleanly after the first frost, collect and dispose of the stems and leaves, add straw or pine needle mulch in cold climates, and remove it in spring before new growth appears.