Content
Tree peonies are striking in their beauty and aroma. The southern part of the country suits them best, but residents of the middle zone, and even the Urals and Siberia, can also enjoy their beauty and fragrance. Planting and caring for a tree peony in different regions has only slight differences. Even beginner gardeners can easily cope with them.
The tree peony is grown even in Siberia, the Urals and the Leningrad region.
How to plant a tree peony
The endurance and decorative effect of the bush largely depends on the quality of the planting material. It is better to order a seedling from a proven nursery from your region. Quality control consists of visual inspection. Depending on the variety of tree peony, the seedling can have from 1 to 8 shoots. Each of them should have 2-3 well-developed renewal buds. The supply of nutrients necessary for rooting contains a seedling, the adventitious roots of which are thicker than 1 cm and longer than 5 cm.
In order for the tree-like peony to actively develop in the future, not get sick and bloom magnificently, it is necessary to carry out all the stages correctly:
- Determine the optimal time for planting.
- Find a suitable location considering sun, wind and soil.
- Landing strictly according to the developed scheme.
The first two years, the bush grows shoots and only from the third it begins to bloom. With proper planting and caring activities, the peony will increase the number of shoots with buds every year. It can take a plant from 5 to 10 years to achieve maximum decorativeness.
When to plant a tree peony
Seedlings that are buried in the ground at the end of the season take root the fastest. For a more accurate determination of the appropriate period, they are based on the climatic features of the region - about 1 month should remain until the first frost. So, in the suburbs and throughout the middle lane, peonies are planted any day in September. In the Urals, Siberia and the Leningrad Region - in the last decade of August or the first half of September.
It is not recommended to plant a tree peony in the spring. During this period, all the forces of the plant are aimed at building up green mass, therefore, the development of roots is inhibited. The bush will take root for a long time and may get sick. If the planting material was purchased in the spring, then it is better not to postpone the event until autumn, but to make it in April or May.
Where to plant a tree peony
The tree peony is an unpretentious culture, but it can reach its peak of decorativeness only when grown in a suitable place. It is determined by three factors:
- The sun... Lush flowering is possible only under the condition of full lighting for at least 6 hours a day.
- Wind... Peonies do not tolerate gusty winds and drafts.
- Priming... Roots develop well in loamy and nutritious soil with an alkaline reaction. When the water stagnates, they rot.
- Neighborhood... Tree peonies should not be planted close to trees and shrubs (at least 1.5 m).
- Ground water... If their level is less than 70 cm, the only way out is to create a high bed.
Peony bushes love sunny and calm places.
How to plant a tree peony correctly
The soil is prepared one month before planting. To do this, dig a hole 70x70 cm. The bottom layer is drainage (15-20 cm). To create it, you need to have crushed brick or gravel. The next layer is a light and nutritious soil mixture. Sod land is taken as a basis, and organic matter is used as additional components. A sand and ash additive will be helpful.
Landing is carried out according to the following scheme:
- Carefully spread the roots of the seedling in the hole, preventing them from creasing.
- Half of the formed soil mixture is poured.
- Watered with settled water.
- The rest of the substrate is poured so that the renewal buds are 3-5 cm deep and form a near-stem circle.
- Watered with Kornevin solution.
How to transplant a tree peony to another location
The culture is highly sensitive to transplants. In terms of survival rate, she is very capricious, so it will not work to constantly transfer her from one place to another. It is important for owners of a tree peony to understand in detail the main issues related to this event:
- How often can it be replanted.
- When is it better to do it.
- How to prepare bushes.
- What is the transplant algorithm.
Is it possible to transplant a tree peony
Sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to dig up a tree peony bush:
- The old place is allocated for other needs.
- Root disease is suspected.
- It is necessary to propagate the bush.
In other cases, it is better not to disturb the plant. With proper watering, pruning and feeding, the plant may not lose its decorative effect for decades without transplanting. Removing a peony from the ground leads to damage to the roots, which makes it difficult to take root and can get sick.
When to transplant a tree peony
For transplantation and parallel reproduction of the tree peony, the period from mid-August (new buds are laid) to the end of September is ideal, when the roots are gaining a sufficient supply of nutrients. There should be 3-4 weeks before frost.
The transplant is not advised to be done in the spring. Roots damaged during digging and dividing will take root very slowly, and the plant itself may weaken. During this period, he needs a lot of strength to form new shoots.
How to dig and prepare bushes
Dig out the root system of the tree peony very carefully, using a pitchfork, so as to injure it as little as possible. We must try to preserve a solid earthen lump. It is better not to shake it off, but to remove it with water pressure.
Then the root is examined, diseased areas are removed and too long are shortened. Sections are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or other disinfectant. If the bush is divided during transplantation, you need to stretch the root using a knife only as a last resort. A sign of a high-quality “delenka” is the presence of several replacement kidneys. Before planting, it is immersed for a couple of hours in a clay mash or stimulating composition.
A high-quality "cut" of a peony has at least two buds on a branch
Algorithm for transplanting a tree peony
The transplant is carried out according to the same scheme as the planting of the purchased material:
- A hole of 70x70 cm is dug in a month.
- At the bottom, if necessary, lay a drainage layer.
- A substrate of sod land and organic fertilizers is poured into the pit.
- The roots of the "delenka" are gently straightened.
- Fall asleep with half of the soil mixture and watered.
- The remaining substrate is poured, covering the root collar, and watered with a stimulating solution.
- A near-trunk circle is formed.
How to care for a tree peony
Even with the best care, the peony develops slowly. Only from the third year does it begin to bloom. If several buds appear in the 1st or 2nd year, they must be plucked before blooming so that the culture does not lose strength. Sometimes you have to wait for the maximum active flowering for more than 5 years.
The main needs of a tree peony:
- watering;
- loosening;
- weed removal;
- top dressing;
- pruning;
- winter shelter.
Watering schedule
The tree peony does not need to be watered too often, but it is advisable to use 2 buckets of settled water under each bush. During the dry period, moisturizing should be done every week, the rest of the time, once every two weeks is enough.
Immediately after planting, watering is carried out every three days for quick rooting. In a rainy spring or autumn, the peony does not need to be watered. Before frosts, soil moistening is stopped so that the roots do not freeze.
How to feed tree peonies
The first two years after planting, the culture can not be fed. The nutrients laid down at the beginning will be enough for him. Then the peony is fed 3 times a year, taking into account the needs:
- In early spring - nitrogen and potassium.
- In April-June, when the buds are tied, there is nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
- In the second week of flowering - potassium and phosphorus.
In the fall, before the dormant period, 300 g of wood ash and 200 g of bone meal are introduced under each bush. After that, the soil is carefully covered.
Pruning rules
A tree peony is pruned in two stages:
- After flowering (in summer). Each shoot is cut to the upper axillary bud.
- After awakening of the kidneys (in spring). Healthy shoots are cut to the first bud, weakened ones - up to 10 cm, dried and diseased ones - are removed completely.
The first pruning is done after flowering.
Preparing for winter
Only in the southern regions, the tree peony bush can not be covered for the winter. In other cases, it is necessary to reliably protect it from freezing. Most of all, he is threatened by sudden changes in temperature. The root collar must be underground. Then, if severe frosts lead to freezing of the bush, the dormant buds will revive, and the plant will rejuvenate.
Before the first frosts, the branches are tied with twine, and the trunk circle is mulched with peat or humus. Agrofibre, spruce branches, dry leaves or bark are used as shelter. In regions where winters often pass with snowstorms, care must be taken to prevent the shelter from being blown away by the wind. Open the peony in the spring after the snow melts.
Features of growing tree peonies in the regions
The southern regions of Russia are best suited for growing tree peonies. However, owners of household plots in the middle lane, in the Urals, Siberia and the Leningrad region can also enjoy their beauty. They will have to work harder to keep the culture healthy.
In the suburbs and the middle lane
The middle zone is characterized by snowy winters with moderate frosts and warm summers with abundant rainfall. These conditions are quite suitable for growing most varieties of tree peony. Planting is carried out throughout September.
Due to the peculiarities of the climate, a massive shelter for the winter does not need to be built. But it is imperative to make a high earthen embankment or mulching with a thick layer. You will not need to water the bush often, especially in July and August, when the greatest amount of precipitation is observed.
In the Leningrad region
The Leningrad Region is part of the northwestern region of Russia, where the weather is the most unpredictable. Such unfavorable phenomena for vegetation as squalls, tornadoes, a sharp drop in temperature in winter or intense heat in summer are often observed. In view of this, it is necessary to take care of a winter shelter for peonies that will withstand powerful gusts of wind.
In areas of excessive moisture, it is important to take care of a good drainage layer so that moisture does not stagnate at the roots of the plant. Before the rainiest months - July and August - it is worth treating the peony with a remedy for gray rot. In the case of a high location of groundwater, tree peonies are planted on an elevated bed. You must choose the quietest place on the site. Planting is best done during the first half of September.
In the Urals
Winters in the Urals are snowy, with sharp temperature changes, blizzards and snowstorms. The tree peony must be carefully covered for this period. In July and June, there are a lot of thunderstorms in the Urals, so you need to treat the bushes with copper-containing preparations for gray rot. In the coldest regions, high beds are built.
For the Urals, you need to select the most frost-resistant varieties of tree peony. Planting should be planned for the end of August or the first part of September. It is better not to carry it out in the spring, since the risk of recurrent frosts may persist until July. Taking into account the peculiarities of the soil, it is important to pay attention to the introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers.
In the northern regions, tree peonies need careful shelter for the winter.
In Siberia
Among Siberian plants, tree peonies are among the first to bloom, which makes them popular heroes of garden plots. Particular attention should be paid to shelter for the winter, because the temperature sometimes drops below -40 ° C. It is necessary to tie the trunk, cover it with spruce branches, lay several layers of covering material and tie it again. You can use roofing material or film, dry leaves.
It is better not to delay planting tree peonies in Siberia. Snow cover may form in October, and full winter will come in early November. By this time, the seedling should completely take root. In Siberia, there is less rainfall than in other regions, so you need to prepare for watering the bush at least once a week.
Pests and diseases
Tree peonies are not sore. Bushes that are old and weakened by transplantation or weather conditions can be affected by gray mold, brown spot or powdery mildew. Noticing signs of decay, it is necessary to spray the bush with copper sulfate, manganese-sour potassium or another fungicide. Rotting stems should be burned. Areas affected by brown spot are removed, and the bush is treated with Bordeaux liquid. The plant is saved from powdery mildew with colloidal sulfur.
The main pests of tree peonies are aphids, ants, thrips, bronzes, root nematodes, and ticks. Modern fungicides are successfully saved from them.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for a tree peony is a feasible task for a gardener of any experience. In order for a plant to delight with its beauty and aroma for many years, you need to adhere to the developed rules and expert advice.
