What a lovely day, a day out of the office and back to the Private Estate where I work as a Gardener.
I have been here for about fourteen years and have seen the garden develop, hedges have been removed, planting changed, refreshed and new borders developed.
It has been an unseasonable day for February, bright skies and warm sunshine, I won’t complain. Spring is around the corner!
So, today’s job was to plant a Tree Peony Collection I had ordered. Within the collection, Paeonia suffruticosa, are ‘Ruby’, ‘White Crane’ and ‘Lu’s Pink’.
I chose this collection as I particularly like the lime green leaves with the rich cerise pink flower of ‘Ruby’ and the double petals of the lovely ‘Lu’s Pink’. ‘White Crane’ has a lovely open habit of the flowers.
©Thompson&Morgan
This is how the Peonies arrive, they need a soak for at least an hour to hydrate the roots.
Right now, is the perfect time to plant bare rooted plants. Bare root plants or trees are supplied in a dormant state and can be transported and planted at this time of year. Then when the warmer weather comes, they can burst into life.
I dug site holes in the border before planting, I removed any weeds from the area around the holes. There is perennial Geranium phaem ‘Mourning Widow’ starting to grow in and around the area I am planting the Peonies. These will look great!
I added some Chicken Manure pellets to the planting hole for a slow release feed as they will be hungry when establishing.
©Thompson&Morgan
All Bare root plants need to be well watered in, and then regularly watered afterwards, while they are establishing themselves during the first season in their new position.
It does look like you are planting a ‘stick’ but I can safely say, you will enjoy seeing your newly planted plant ‘Spring’ into life.
One of my earliest memories; helping my Mum and Dad weed the veggie plot and collecting chicken eggs from the chooks at the end of the garden. I grew up on a farm as a child and always had my own piece of land to grow and learn with, so I suppose its in the blood!
In my mid twenties, I re trained in Horticulture (Professional Gardening ANCH) and set up my own Gardening business working for clients in the Suffolk/Essex area. For the last thirteen years Ive had the pleasure of working on a private twenty five acre estate tending to the grounds.
In 2016, I joined the team at Thompson and Morgan in the Customer Care department.
Also season ticket holder at Ipswich Town Football Club!!
Just received bare root peonies from T and M
They are in plastic bags and feel damp.
Can I keep them in the bags till spring. Or shall I put in a pot ????
Hello – You will need to plant them now. Keeping them in the bags will cause them to rot. If you don’t want to plant them out in the garden yet then simply pot them up and grow them on in containers until you are ready to plant them out properly.
All the best
Sue
Hi. My bare root arrived but lots of damaged and broken off bits of green and white roots loose in the bag. Also no sticks growing from it. Is the root dead already or will it still spring to life when planted? I’m a bit disappointed with what I’ve received but I suppose I didn’t really know what it would be like on arrival. Your blog suggests something much bigger will arrive. Thank you
Hello – I’ve passed your details to our customer care team. Someone will be in touch with you shortly to help you.
All the best
Sue
PLANTED BARE ROOT PEONIE HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE IT COMING UP
Hello
Bare root peonies will usually take around 6 weeks to produce some decent foliage from a spring planting. They won’t always flower in their first year though as they are busy establishing themselves.
All the best
Sue
Just received bare root peonies from T&M on 15th May after waiting ages.
I cannot see them growing much when this blog says that they should have been in the ground in March
Hi Robert
We sincerely apologize that your plants were delayed – but I’m glad to hear that you have finally received them now. Please rest assured that they can still be planted now. They will quickly catch up on any growth that would have been made, had they been planted earlier on. Although we would recommend that they are normally planted around March/ April, this is really just a guide. We have had quite a cool spring and the soil should still have plenty of moisture to ensure that they get off to a good start. If you need any guidance on their care please take a look at our video on How to plant peonies https://youtu.be/qb8ZJaFpFJw
Once again, I apologize for the delay, but hope that you are able to enjoy your Peonies for many years to come.
Best wishes
Sue
Can I keep peony roots in water to root…befor transplanting to new lication?
Hello
Hello
I would avoid keeping them submerged in water as this may cause them to rot. If you are moving them then it’s best to transplant them to their new location straight away, but if this isn’t possible then pot them up into a container in some damp compost. You may want to let them root in to the container and plant them back out in the garden in autumn when the soil is not so dry.
All the best
Sue