Time to move herbaceous peonies

Fall is the best time to move and divide herbaceous peonies and Oriental poppies.

There are two common forms of peony grown in our gardens. Tree peonies have a permanent woody stem and act like an ordinary deciduous shrub. As such, tree peonies can be treated like any other shrub and left in the ground permanently.

Herbaceous peonies on the other hand die back to the ground each fall like a perennial. As a perennial, they can be dug and divided periodically to start new plants or move crowded ones. Because they need time to set new roots before starting a new top, fall is the best time to divide them. In my case, plants I acquired from a friend several years ago are now arguing with a neighboring plant over space. It’s time to get the shovel out.

A few days before moving them, prepare the new planting spots by adding organic material and watering the space well. Water the plants you are moving so they will be well hydrated and soil around them is easy to dig.

On digging day, determine how wide the crown of the plant is and then insert a sharp shovel through the center of the plant cutting it in half. Then work your way around the outside of the root mass, gently prying up the two sections. Wash the soil off so you can see the roots and the bright pink growing “eyes” in the crown of the plant. With a sharp knife, cut the root mass into sections that have three to five growing eyes and several stout, four- to six-inch shoots.

Replant the root section so the pink buds are no more than an inch and half to two inches below the surface of the soil. If they are planted any deeper, the plant will never bloom. Firm the soil around the plant and water them in well. Keep them moist until the really cold weather sets in. Be sure to mark the spot where you planted them so you don’t dig into it in the spring.

Oriental poppies are another plant that prefers to be moved in the fall. Because the plant went dormant over the summer, you might have to look carefully for the little tuft of hairy green leaves that sprouted in the cooler fall weather.

Dig compost into your new planting space and water the area well. To locate the edge of the root mass start digging about a foot out from the clump until you find it. Carefully work your way around the plant and lift the clump out of the ground. Wash off enough dirt so you can see the crown. With a sharp knife, cut apart sections of the skinny tuberous roots with a clump of leaves attached to each. The larger the pieces, the stronger the new plant will be. Replant immediately at the same depth the root sections were originally in the ground. Water well and mark the planting site.