Peony
Paeonia
An ornamental plant, planted May or November, or sown August to November.
In September: cut back the peony. It can be sown under cover now.
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Peony, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow under cover. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual |
| Plant a pot-grown peony. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | none |
| Plant a bare-root peony. | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Feed the peony. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Mulch the peony. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Stake the peony. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Cut back the peony. | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
| Lift and divide the peony. | none | none | usual | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Sowing and planting
Sow under cover August to November, 2.5cm deep. Moderate source: RHS.
Plant a pot-grown peony in May, 2.5cm deep, 1m apart. Moderate source: RHS.
Plant a bare-root peony in November, 2.5cm deep, 1m apart. Moderate source: RHS.
Feed the peony
Use a general-purpose fertiliser such as Growmore, at 70g per square metre.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: RHS.
Mulch the peony
Spread garden compost or well-rotted manure, but keep it off the centre so the buds aren’t damaged.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: RHS.
Stake the peony
Weave birch or hazel twigs around the emerging flower stems, or use a peony support.
Usually March to May. Moderate source: Sarah Raven.
Cut back the peony
Cut the dying leaves off at ground level to reduce the risk of peony wilt.
Usually September to November. Moderate source: RHS.
Lift and divide the peony
Usually November. Moderate source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Peony” comes from.