When to cut peonies for the winter?

Preparing your garden for winter is an important matter. When it is carried out, it is necessary to take into account all the needs of plants and their whims, so that next year you will be pleased with the blossoming flowering and abundant harvest. But in order to observe all the rules of plant preparation for winter, it is necessary to study these rules in detail.

So, let's consider in this article the preparation for the winter of peonies, namely, the pruning of peonies in the fall.

Many doubt whether it is really necessary to cut peonies in autumn, but these doubts can be easily dispelled and answer the question "Do peonies need to be cut?" Unequivocally in the affirmative. Pruning peonies is an obligatory part of preparing these beautiful flowers for the cold of winter and can not be neglected.

And now let's take a closer look at when to cut peonies for the winter and how to do it correctly.

When to cut off leaves from peonies?

So, when will peonies be cut in autumn? Correctly cut them in late autumn, when the cold starts. That is, in October-November, the exact time depends on the climate. Many people think that peonies should be cut earlier, but it's more appropriate to trim them at the end of autumn, as pions develop root system not only during flowering, but also after, that is, during the whole period of vegetation . And since all the processes of nutrition in all plants, without exception, take place through photosynthesis, which is carried out by their leaves, by cutting the peonies earlier, you deprive them of the roots of those nutrients that they could still get, since their nutrition and development is due to substances obtained in the process of photosynthesis. That's why the peonies need to be cut off in late autumn, when the process of pion development is over and they are ready to "hibernate." And early pruning of peonies can lead to the fact that plants will be weakened and will not bloom well next year, and, perhaps, will not bloom at all.

Of course, if you see that the plant is already very withered or sick, then the pruning can be carried out somewhat earlier than usual. Yet there is something that can not be written anywhere - intuition, which is often better than any other advisors will tell you how to do something right.

How correctly to cut peonies?

Over time, pruning peonies, we decided unequivocally and unconditionally. Now let's go directly to the very process of pruning peonies in the fall and figure out how to properly carry it out.

When the peonies are cut, almost all of their overground part is removed, including stems, leaves and flowers. It will be correct to leave small stems for the pions in winter over the kidneys, which will be approximately from three centimeters to five. A convenient length for you, you can determine yourself, so to speak, in a practical way.

After you cut your peonies, all the cropped leaves, Stems and flowers must be removed from the flowerbed, so that there do not start pests. Some gardeners leave all these leaves to them, and cover the peonies for the winter, protecting them from the cold, but where is more appropriate to use humus or dry peat, which is much better to warm the peonies in the cold and prevent the breeding of pests.

So we, in general, and sorted out with this part of the preparation of pions for the winter. Autumn pruning peonies is really necessary, although you can always give up clear rules, creating your own, because that's how new rules have always been created and will be created. So never be afraid to act in your own way, if you feel that you are right. But until you have gained experience in gardening, it is better to follow the recommendations nevertheless.