How To Fertilize Peonies In Autumn For Health And Lush Flowering In Spring: Folk And Store Remedies

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to fertilize peonies in autumn: taking care of your favorite flowers

Peonies are perennial decorative flowers that can grow in one place for more than 20 years. But in order to enjoy the lush flowering every year, the bushes must be properly looked after and fertilized every autumn.

How to fertilize peonies in autumn

In spring and summer, peonies spend energy on building up green mass and flowering, so by autumn they are depleted and need pruning and feeding. In the absence of proper care, the flowers gradually become smaller, the leaves become pale green. Short flowering is another sign that the plant needs to be fed. Fertilization is necessary even if the peony looks healthy and full of energy. Correctly applied top dressing will help the plant to survive the cold, and bloom magnificently in the spring.

It is necessary to feed peonies in autumn in 2 stages. The first stage is the application of mineral fertilizers at the end of September. Experienced gardeners feed the flowers immediately after pruning and dividing the rhizomes (if carried out). The second stage is the introduction of organic fertilizers 2 weeks after the first feeding. Along with organic fertilizers, folk remedies can also be used.

Mineral dressing

In autumn, peonies need potassium and phosphorus. These trace elements are responsible for the normal development of the plant and the abundant spring flowering. Nitrogen at this stage does not need to be added, since nitrogen fertilization provokes the growth of the green mass, and in the fall this is not necessary. Nitrogen application can harm the plant. The peony will spend energy on growth, which will lead to a decrease in resistance to adverse environmental conditions, and in winter it can die.

For the autumn feeding of peonies with phosphorus, the following fertilizers are suitable:

• superphosphate - 20-25 g per bush;
• potassium sulfate - 10-15 g per bush.

As a source of potassium, you can choose:

• potassium monophosphate - 35-40 g per bush;
• potassium monophosphate - 35-40 g per bush;
• kalimagnesia - 15–20 g per bush.

Fertilizers can be dissolved in a bucket of water or applied undissolved by scattering them around the peony bushes. In this case, it is very important that the granules do not fall on the necks of the plant. Before feeding, the bushes must be watered abundantly at the rate of 2 buckets per plant. After fertilization, the soil must be re-shed with water.

It is recommended to apply mineral fertilizers for peonies in autumn

Organic fertilizers

In autumn, peonies must be fed with organic fertilizers. The ideal time for this is the second and third decades of October. As a source of valuable organic matter under the peony bushes, you can add:

• fresh manure (previously diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 8);
• rotted manure (diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3);
• bird droppings (previously diluted with water in a ratio of 1:12);
• compost (1 bucket per bush).

It is permissible to bring half a bucket of diluted manure or bird droppings under a peony bush. Beforehand, the plants need to be well watered with water at the rate of 2 buckets per bush.

Some gardeners dig in the bushes and apply organic fertilizers at the same time. In this case, it is important that manure or bird droppings do not get on the roots. This can lead to burns and death of the plant.

In the fall, I always bring organic matter under the peonies. I try to alternate fertilizers. I use bird droppings or fresh manure every 3 years. The rest of the time I fertilize with rotted mullein or compost. This is quite enough.

When digging and simultaneously applying organic fertilizers, direct contact of the roots with fertilizers should be avoided

Folk remedies

There are also folk ways of feeding peonies. They are quite effective and can be used both as a supplement to mineral or organic fertilizers, and as independent fertilizers.

Ash

Wood ash is a source of a number of trace elements for peonies. For autumn feeding of bushes, it is necessary to dissolve 200 g of ash in 10 liters of water and add 5 liters of working solution under each plant. You can scatter 100 g of ash around each bush, and then water abundantly.

Rye bread

For the autumn feeding of peonies, it is necessary to grind a loaf of rye bread and mix with 10 liters of water. Insist for 12 hours, then pour 2 liters of the resulting fermented mixture under each bush.

Eggshell

The eggshell is a source of minerals for the peony. To prepare top dressing, you need to pour a bucket of water into the crushed shell of 20 eggs, then leave for 3 days, and then pour 2 liters of the mixture under each plant.

How to care for peonies in autumn - video

In the fall, both mineral and organic fertilizers should be applied under the peony bushes. With proper care, this flower can bloom for many years.