How Do You Care For Peony Bushes?
When most people think of peonies, they picture giant blossoms in pink, magenta or white. But this perennial bush has five varieties, and the flowers come in cream, black, scarlet, coral, yellow, purple and rose as well. There is an old adage that peonies need black ants in order to bloom. They don’t need them, but ants won’t hurt peonies either. The ants feed on the sticky secretion that covers the flower buds, and this may help loosen the leaves to open. Plant peonies in a sunny spot where the strong winds cannot buffet them. They prefer living where winters are cold, and they don’t do well in very warm climates. The soil should be well aerated. Apply a low nitrogen fertilizer, about 2 to 3 cups per plant. A good ratio is 5-10-10. Apply in the spring when the stems are only 2 to 3 inches high. Use a hoe to spread powder fertilizer or a spray applicator if fertilizer is liquid. Disbud peonies if you want larger blooms. Leave the terminal bud of each stem tip but remove all of the side
