Share this article

How to Fertilize Peonies

By: Greg Lindberg

●

21 September, 2017

Peonies are perennial flowers that can live for several decades. Cultivars come in various colors such as coral, cream, black, crimson, purple, pink, scarlet, yellow and white. Peonies can begin to flower six to eight weeks after planting. Provide a location for the peonies that receives plenty of sunlight and little shade and maintain your peonies by fertilizing the flower bed each year. It’s important to know what type of fertilizer is best for peonies and how much should be added. Over-fertilizing can hurt the growth of the flowers.

Apply fertilizer to the soil before planting peonies. Plan on planting in early fall and start by digging a hole that is a least 12-inches deep and 18-inches wide. Add in a 2-inch layer of compost before adding fertilizer.

Peonies are perennial flowers that can live for several decades.
Over-fertilizing can hurt the growth of the flowers.

Add a 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 ratio fertilizer at the bottom of the hole over the compost. Don't add any fertilizer to the soil the will surround the roots of the peonies.

Add a 1/2 cup of bone meal over the fertilizer and spread it evenly. This helps supply more nutrients to the deep roots during growth. Add the plants and fill the hole with the soil you dug up.

Apply a 5-10-10 ratio fertilizer in the spring when the stems of the peonies are about 2-inches tall. Add only 1/2 cup of low nitrogen fertilizer per plant. Spread the 1/2 cup evenly around the base of the plant.

Add a 1/4 cup of 10-10-10 ratio fertilizer at the bottom of the hole over the compost.

Continue fertilizing your peonies every spring, but use a 5-10-5 ratio fertilizer. Peonies reach full growth within eight years. Never over fertilize or you could stunt the growth.

Fertilizer To Use For Peonies

Herbaceous peonies and tree peonies produce large, showy flowers in a variety of colors. Although peonies can grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 3 through 9, they do best in cooler locations. The flowers can continue to bloom year after year, but special care is required. Experts at North Carolina State University recommend adding compost or other organic matter to the bottom of the peony's planting hole. Peonies require fertilization in the spring after growth has begun and stems are roughly 2 to 3 inches high. Dividing and replanting peonies occurs in the fall, so you may need to adhere to special fertilization needs at that time, such as amending soil with well-rotted compost to boost nutrient content or scattering a handful of bone meal around the newly divided and replanted peonies to encourage strong root development. Fertilizer can run off and pollute streams and lakes, so ensure that your peonies are placed in well-draining soil in a location that will not contribute to water pollution.

Continue fertilizing your peonies every spring, but use a 5-10-5 ratio fertilizer.
Dividing and replanting peonies occurs in the fall, so you may need to adhere to special fertilization needs at that time, such as amending soil with well-rotted compost to boost nutrient content or scattering a handful of bone meal around the newly divided and replanted peonies to encourage strong root development.