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At this time of the
year, the branches of the tree peonies stand bare of leaves and the buds
appear dor-
mant. Since there are no leaves, strictly speaking, sunlight is not
especially necessary. Though the "botan"
(tree peony)
is quite cold hardy, even so it is not desirable that it be subjected,
such as it might be in areas
of severe cold, to freezing conditions over an
extended period of time, nor should the soil of potted tree peo-
nies
become
frozen.
Therefore,
one
could
say
that it is necessary to have
the heat of the sun
in
order
to keep
the ice smelted.
Though
that portion
of the
plant
above the
ground remains dormant,
the root continues to absorb moisture.
Respiration is also taking place. In short, one could
simply say the colder the temperature is, the less the in-
ternal activity of the plant.
I. Care of Garden
Plantings
1. Mature Plants (3+ year-old grafts)
A.
Mulch: Mulch is applied to the ground to help prevent freezing and
drying out. This is not necessary in
warmer climates.
B. Watering: Not
necessary.
C. Fertilizer:
Fertilizing is not
done during this month,
but at about the
middle of the
month at a rate of
every
year
or
about
one
handful
of
lime
is
applied
to
each
plant
to
prevent
acidity
in the soil.
This
is spread
around
the
circumference
of
the plant
and shallowly
worked
into
the soil.
If
the
plants have
been mulched,
the lime is applied
after the mulch has been temporarily removed.
D.
Planting, Transplanting:
Planting
and transplanting are not
ordinarily done during this month; in warmer
climates, however,
it is not impossible.
If transplanting is an
absolute necessary, the plant should be re-
moved with the
largest amount of the soil possible, care being taken not to disturb the
roots, and trans-
planted without
breaking up the attached soil and then mulched.
However,
this activity will have an
ad-
verse effect on
that year's growth and is not highly recommended.
E. Pruning: No
pruning is done during this month.
2.
Immature Plants (1-2 year-old grafts)
Root
systems
of
young
grafts
are
limited
and
shallow.
Therefore,
these
plants
should
be mulched,
as in the
case of mature
plants. but both en cold and warmer climates.
In addition,
they should be watered if they
appear unusually
dry.
Other than than that,
their
treatment should be the same
as that of mature plants.
II.
Care of Potted
Plants
1. Mature Plants (3+ year-old grafts)
A.
Location:
A sunny
exposure need not especially
be sought out,
but the plants
should be placed
in a lo-
cation where the
soil in the pot will not easily freeze.
In warmer areas,
they can be placed in an out-of-
the-way
corner of the garden, or, in areas of average
winter conditions, under the eaves. In regions
where the soil
would easily freeze, the pots can be buried in the soil, thus avoiding
pots being broken by
the freeze. In the
bottom of a hole dug in the ground, small stones pieces of Styrofoam,
etc.,
are placed
to
a
depth
of
about
four
inches,
or
deeper
in
the case
of places with poor drainage.
The pot
is buried such
that the top edge
protrudes somewhat above the soil.
Then the top of the pot
and the surrounding soil
are mulched.
B. Watering: Potted
tree
peonies
should be watered
at
the rate of once a
week
for
those placed in a
cor-
ner of the garden
and twice a week for those placed under the eaves. There will probably
be no need to
water pots that
have been buried.
The
secret
of
proper
watering,
however,
is
not
in deciding
to
water "every
so-many days",
but in water-
ing when the
surface of the soil in the pot has dried out and appears whitish.
Then it should be
watered
thoroughly
during the morning
hours.
In colder regions
or when serve cold is expected to continue for se-
veral days,
however, it is important that watering be kept to a minimum.
Since
it is difficult
to tell the agree
of dryness of the
soil
with a covering
of mulch over it,
until the gro-
wer becomes
well accustomed to
it,
he should directly
ascertain the
condition of the
soil
after partially
lifting up the
mulch and peeking underneath.
C. Fertilizer:
Fertilizer in not done this month.
D.
Planting, Transplanting:
Not done.
E. Pruning,
Etc.: Not done.
2. Immature Plants (1-2 year-old grafts)
These
should be kept in a
place warmer than
that for mature plants, such as indoors.
Other than that,
the
care of these
plants is the same as that of mature plants.
III. Prevention and Remedy of Disease
To
prevent the appearance of harmful insects and disease later with the
onset of spring, a 20:1 con-
centrated solution of
lime and sulfur is sprayed once over the plants. This is especially
important to do if
if the
previous
year purple
or dark brown
spots appeared
on the flower petals, leaves, leaf
stems,
shoots,
etc., or if
the autumn
withering of the leaves came sooner than usual.
If only a small number
of plants
is
involved, the
application of the solution can be done with a brush rather than a
sprayer.
V. Notes for Especially
Cold Areas
In areas
where freezing conditions continue over an extended period of time, the plants should be well
mulched. Especially
in the case of potted plants, each should be buried in the soil and a
layer of mulch
applied.
In
this
type
of climate,
the plants
should be
maintained
in a somewhat
dry condition,
but if overly
dried
out, should be
watered during the morning.
Since the plants would have been fertilizing is done until the coming of
warm weather.
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rights reserved by American Peony Society (APS)
To join this peony society, send
$10.00
annual dues to Mrs. Claudia
Schroer,
Secretary-Editor,
713 White Oak Lane, Gladstone, MO
64116-4607, USA. Benefits
are received by members, including four quarterly bulletins.
For members are many special APS peony books available. Also the above
mentioned exemplar.
The
APS also have a web address: http://www.americanpeonysociety.org
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