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to prune herbaceous peonies or not

CaptainBlackCaptainBlack Posts: 14
in Plants
hi,
I have an herbaceous peony in my garden that I have just deadheaded. Normally, I would wait till the leaves went brown etc before chopping down to the crown. The problem is I only have a small garden and the peony blocks the sunlight from a fair part of it so I would like to open the area up to the light. Can I chop it down while it is still in the green? I can't move it as it pretty much in the only place it will thrive. How much would this affect the feeding of the roots and next years blooms?

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    It is currently using the leaves to build-up the tubers so it has enough stored energy in them to produce flowers next spring.  If you cut them down now, they may only produce new leaves and no flowers next year.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • UsFourUsFour Posts: 49
    Sorry to intrude on william's post but @BobTheGardener would it be better to feed now or just before flowering?
    UsFour 

    The older you get, the more you realise that it is OK to live a life others don't understand.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    UsFour said:
    Sorry to intrude on william's post but @BobTheGardener would it be better to feed now or just before flowering?

    I usually feed them in early spring but sometimes give additional liquid feeds throughout the spring and summer, especially if in pots.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • CaptainBlackCaptainBlack Posts: 14
    Thanks Bob. I'll look at plan B and see if I can redistribute the planting behind it.
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