Show the world how much you love peonies with some ultra-cool merch!

I’m a big fan of using mulch, and specifically a natural wood mulch. No dyes. But there are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to mulching peonies.

It’s a topical and relevant subject right now, so I’m jumping off that for this week’s email. Here’s when and how to fertilize peonies.

• Rule number one is not to fertilize peonies as a rule without a reason to do so. Generally, peonies do not need to be fertilized. But if yours isn’t growing as well as it used to or appears to be struggling, then yes, fertilizing can be an option.

Peonies are a harbinger of spring with their massive and colorful flowers that stand out at a time when most of the other summer bloomers are still working on stems and leaves.

Zone by zone, peonies bloom begins first in the south and makes its way north over the course of a few months.

For Zones 7-8 (the warmest zones peonies can generally tolerate) bloom season starts in April and lasts into May. Some varieties in zone 7 can linger into early June.

Heading polward, zones 5-6 generally bloom May into early June.

Zones 3-4 can expect bloom time from very late May through late June.

And finally anyone growing peonies in zone 2 can plan for bloom time June into July.

Here on our farm we typically see the hybrid red and coral varieties peaking around Memorial Day into very early June. Woody (tree) peonies, fern peonies and other early varieties bloom as early as the first week in May!

The last of the pink and white doubles wait until closer to the middle of June. By Father’s Day there are still flowers in the fields but they are definitely starting to disappear.

Now of course there are some caveats. Peonies planted on a warm south exposure against a rock wall or house will bloom earlier. If you’re in a valley where cool air pools, bloom can come a little later. Microclimates like these, both warm and cool can affect bloom. A warm spring can also speed up bloom time.

And then there’s the matter of variety. Different varieties of peonies bloom at different times in the season. With the right collection peony season can last several weeks!

Look for the bloom date or bloom week when shopping for peonies. This can help pair peonies that bloom during the same week for more of a mass display. But planting peonies that bloom during different weeks will make for a longer peony season. The decision there is a hard one and up to you!

Certain personality traits are associated with the different zodiac signs. As a Leo I’m known to be stubborn, confident, generous, loyal and protective. (Leo’s are also known for being egotistical and self-centered but I’ll just fail to mention those!)

There are three zodiac signs specifically tied to peonies for a whole variety of reasons. Those three are Taurus, Libra, and Scorpio.

Whatever your growing, from peonies to vegetables to annual flowers, soil is one of the most important factors to consider.

Peonies, along with many other perennials and annuals can tolerate less than ideal soil conditions, but in order to thrive you’ll want to give your plants a better environment.

When it comes to peonies, you especially want your soil to drain well. Peonies do not like to sit in wet soil and roots can easily rot if that’s the case.

So this simple percolation test from the American Peony Society can help you get to know your soil drainage situation.

As a commercial grower and vendor of peonies, registered with the American Peony Society we have voluntarily signed their Code of Ethics.

This assures you that we are committed to providing you with the highest quality, true-to-name peony roots.

Commercial Growers will in good faith: