- Peonies are hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant zone 5, but only grow and bloom during the summer season. They awaken with growth and buds in spring, bloom through summer and fade back in fall for a winter dormancy. In cold USDA zones 5 and 6, they may die down to the ground naturally in fall.
- Prepare peonies for winter after at least one heavy frost. This rule applies only to landscape peonies; tree peonies don't require winter preparations. Cut off flower stems and foliage and trim the peony trunks and stems to within 3 inches of the ground.
- Mulch over the peony stems with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to protect them through winter. Water the peonies only during dry times in winter, and allow natural rainfall to nurture the plants when it's available. This is a dormant period for peonies, so they don't require much care.
- Uncover peonies in early spring when the ground thaws. Be careful of any new stems when you work with early spring peonies, as they'll break easily. Turn 2 to 3 inches of organic compost into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil for nutrition and moisture retention. Giving the shrubs low-nitrogen fertilizer such as 5-10-10 at this time encourages vegetative growth. Too much nitrogen causes weak peony stems, so limit applications to the spring.
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