Patch & Pot
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Lesson 2

Plant shallow, plant once

Plant shallow, plant once

The single rule: plant the crown (where stems meet roots) NO MORE than 2–3 cm below soil level. Planted deeper, they sulk and don't flower for years.

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. In pots: 40 L tub minimum, fresh rich compost with horticultural grit; one plant per pot. Don't move them once happy — they hate disturbance.

Best planting season: autumn (September–November) for bare-root divisions. Container peonies can be planted any time the ground is workable, but autumn establishes best.

Planting a bare-root peony in October

  1. 1Choose a sunny, sheltered spot — peonies last 30 years here.
  2. 2Dig a hole 30 cm wide × 25 cm deep, work in a spadeful of compost.
  3. 3Set the crown so the 'eyes' (the pink dormant buds) sit 2–3 cm below soil level — no deeper.
  4. 4Backfill, firm gently, water in with a full can.
  5. 5Mulch around (NOT over) the crown with bark or compost.
  6. 6Wait. Year 1: leaves only. Year 2: a flower or two. Year 3: full glory.
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