How to divide and transplant peonies
Coral Charm, peony root before division.
There’s a reason we ship out our peony roots in the fall. It’s this time of year when the weather turns cool that peonies put their energy into developing roots. Planting peonies in the fall ensures they can develop a healthy root system before spring requires all their effort to be put into stems, leaves and of course flowers!
For the same reasons, it’s a great time to divide the peonies you already have to create more beautiful plants for free! Spread them around your garden of gift them to a friend.
Choose a fall day when the weather is cool and overcast. This is important because it will reduce stress on the plants during the transplanting process.
Cut back the foliage on the peony plants to about 3-4 inches above the ground. This will make it easier to see what you're doing and reduce the stress on the plant.
Use a garden fork to carefully dig up the entire peony plant, taking care not to damage the roots. Plan to dig at least 6-8" out from the stems of the peony plant. The roots grow out as well as down! Gently remove excess soil.
Use a sharp, clean knife or pruners to divide the peony plant into smaller sections. If the roots are very large, use a sharp, clean hand saw. Each section should have at least a couple healthy roots and a few stems with pink or white buds at their base. These buds will become nest year's stems and we refer to them as “eyes”.
Replant each section of the peony plant in a hole that is twice as wide as the root system and deep enough so that the crown of the plant is 1" to 2” below the soil surface. Do not plant too deep! But also, no part of the root should be visible above the soil.
Water the newly transplanted peonies thoroughly, and continue to water them regularly for the next few weeks until they become established. You can (and should) water up until the ground freezes.
By following these instructions, you should be able to successfully divide your garden peonies in the fall and enjoy healthy, beautiful plants for years to come!
Section of the same Coral Charm root as above, after division.