Few flowers bring quite as much joy as peonies. Their sizeable heads and fragrance are a beautiful late spring and early summer addition – but once the flowers begin to fade, you might be wondering what to do next.
Peonies are relatively low-maintenance, and a few tasks after blooms appear can help ensure they return with an even more spectacular display.
From deadheading spent blooms to caring for the foliage, these are the simple steps you should follow once your peonies have finished flowering.
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1. Deadhead faded blooms
One of the most important jobs after flowering is removing spent flowers before the plant begins producing seed.
'With peonies, the key is to deadhead spent blooms as soon as petals fall, to help prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production,' explains Mark Sage, horticultural expert at B&Q.
A clean, sharp pair of secateurs can make this easier, helping to remove faded flower heads without damaging the surrounding stems.
Removing old blooms helps redirect the plant's energy into strengthening its roots and preparing for next year's beautiful flower display.
2. Leave the foliage in place
While it may be tempting to tidy the whole plant once flowering has finished, the leaves still have an important role to play.
'The leaves should be left intact until at least early autumn, as the plant will still use these to photosynthesise through summer and build energy for the following year,' says Richard Barker, horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.
The foliage not only helps fuel next year's blooms, but can also add interest to the garden as the seasons change, with most varieties giving good autumn foliage colour.
3. Keep watering through summer
Although the brighter flowers may have disappeared, peonies still benefit from regular care during the warmer months.
'You should continue to water the plant even after the flowers have died back, as any prolonged dryness can affect the flowers produced the following year,' says Richard.
When watering, aim for the base of the plant rather than the leaves. However, avoid overhead watering, as wetting the leaves can make the plant more vulnerable to disease.
4. Feed and mulch
Peonies can be given a balanced fertiliser even after flowering, as this can help to encourage better blooms when they flower again.
Adding a layer of mulch around the base can also keep the soil cool and retain moisture, which is beneficial for the roots while they store energy.
'The layer of mulch should be a few inches thick, and avoid covering the crown of the plant or letting the mulch touch the stems,' adds Richard.
5. Tidy the plant and the area
Ensure that any debris on the ground is cleaned up, such as fallen flower petals or dropped leaves, as this can help to prevent the spread of diseases such as mildew.
The final tidy-up should wait until autumn, when the foliage has naturally finished its work. 'After the foliage turns yellow and starts to die back, usually around the first frosts in autumn, cut the flower stems down to a few centimetres above ground level.'
Once it does this, it can then be cut down to ground level for a reset, ready to start growing gorgeous blooms again next year.
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