How to prune peony flowers

Pruning tips

Early Spring Pruning

In early spring, peonies will wake up from dormancy and gradually transition to the growth period. At this time, check the small buds on the branches and only keep the 2 to 3 tender buds on the top and remove the rest. In addition, check whether there are suckers growing from the rhizomes and remove them in time.

Prune after blooms fade

After the peony blooms, all the petals and withered leaves should be removed. This can reduce the consumption of nutrients in the pot and is conducive to the division of flower buds. When the differentiation of flower buds is more obvious, only keep the buds on both sides of the branches and cut off all the tender buds on the top.

Pre-winter pruning

The plants enter a dormant period in winter, which is the best time to prune them. Cut off all overlapping branches, crossed branches, and diseased and insect-infested branches on the plant. Thin and weak branches can be shortened to promote their recovery. For overgrown branches, pruning them short can reduce nutrient consumption.

Different peony pruning methods

How to prune Dutch peonies

This is a more common pruning method. After the flowers wither in April and May, cut off the remaining flowers, and dig out some of the new shoots that grow in early June. Prune the branches in mid-September.

The main purpose of this pruning method is to establish the main trunk. Beautiful branches will continue to grow through pruning, and it occupies a smaller area, but the disadvantage is that it produces fewer flowers in the short term.

Japanese style cutting

It is said that this is the advice of the Japanese, to cut the branches off in time after flowering and keep them as short as possible. Keep branches that have flower buds but have not bloomed to promote plant renewal.