How close are your peonies to each other? I have most of mine the 3 ft apart as recommended by various growers/websites, for root growth and air circulation.

My garden doesn't look as lush and full as those I've seen that are planted closer together. From what I can tell from Martha Stewart's, her double rows seem to be planted only about 1 foot apart down each row and maybe 2 - 2.5 ft apart across the row, and they look gorgeous (I realize its MS we are talking about!)

I would like to fit in a few more....thoughts would be appreciated!

I keep 3 ft between the centers of bushes but other people have smaller distance as I can see from pictures.

Krazyquilter, a lot depends on your individual area. If it's arid you and you water from below you can get away with planting them closer, humid zones I wouldn't try it, you'll end up dealing with a lot more fungal and mildew issues.

Anya - thanks for your personal experience, you plant similar to me!
Liz - I saw on other threads you are moving (with your peonies) down south.
How far apart do you have planted in CO, and are you amending that for the more humid climate going forward?

I'm concerned not only about the spacing due to mildew and blight, but also competitive roots crowding each other. However, some front lawn peony displays I see in my area are planted close, and (for now) they look fine and healthy and are more visually appealing than mine (a "wave" of peonies), whereas mostly I can walk between mine.

Krazyquilter, I hope to modify spacing in AL, they will need it there. Problem is I need to move almost all my remaining plants this fall and preparing enough beds is going to be a challenge. The native soil is hard clay and there simply isn't enough time to amend so I'll be using mainly raised beds, some behind retaining walls on a hill but the largest on a gentle slope. We added 40 yards of soil last fall and I still had to space the ones I moved then far too close together for my liking. Trying to emulate what Carol Adelman did in Oregon, basically planting at native soil levels in large, mounded rows on the gentle slope. With all of the stay at home orders and travel bans we haven't been out there since January, getting anxious to start on those beds. Hoping to be out there by the end of this month.

I've seen one of Carol Adelman's videos of the top mounting technique she uses, which will work quicker, and if you want to move later, will also be easier.

My parents retired to CO from CT 25 yrs ago, dad is still there and says one thing he doesn't miss from the East Coast is the humidity.

I'm sure you'll be able to make plans by the end of May, but have a funny scenario in mind:
Gov't official: Mame, why do you need to travel during a national emergency?
You: I am on an urgent mission to check on my precious peonies

I'm planting pretty closely, 3-4 ft between centers. The peonies i've bought are so special to me-and many have yet to even have their first bloom! I'm making large undulating borders in my new garden and the peonies will create a central band throughout with their colors influencing the perennials around them. I'm doing a mix of shrubs and evergreens behind them.

I'm realizing there's little chance of doing too much wrong, plants can be moved so easily even though there is some stress when we move important plants.

Sullio, you say you have planted 3-4 feet, closely. I don't consider that close, it is average. I wanted to know if I can go closer than that, 2 - 2.5 like some gardeners and growers do. I am already spacing at 3, but would like to go closer.

You may place them at 2-2.5 ft and regret it 2 or 3 years later. 3 -4 ft is quite reasonable. Some peonies are generally smaller or bigger than others. Look at peony description and decide for yourself. Certainly, the distance between two bushes of Petite Elegance is going to be smaller than between 2 Festiva Maximas.
Another thing to consider how long are those going to be in this particular space. If it is only 2 or 3 years and you will divide or move it - than it is perfectly fine.

You can do it but remember, if you have ever dug a mature peony root up, they can be quite large and need the space to grow and perform well.

I guess I was thinking that most recommend 4-5ft for optimal long term growth. I know several commercial growers and they have the room to space 5 ft centers in their rows so they don't have to fear mildew etc. Since I tend to plant my beds with closely packed plants in general I think 3 is the closest I would go here in the Northeast, the humidity and heavy spring rains that continued through the summer last year would mean more moisture related issues I think.

of course it's up to everyone what works for them and the space they have available! RE: Martha's house, she has a team of gardeners to do the maintenance and troubleshooting but looking at this post, I don't think they're too close, they're just very established plants. She's had them for a long time. Still love her custom twine system.

https://www.themarthablog.com/...

I'm not sure what's ideal, but in my garden, there's not a lot of space and I like to grow a lot of plants, so naturally they are very tight. Last year, my NOID peony had 13 blooms despite being in tight quarter. You can see it in the picture here. It's squashed between a liatris, a blueberry, and a zucchini. It didn't bother it but I moved it this year.

@SoCalGardenNut I am talking about the distance between peonies in the rows and individual peony plants, not under planting or mix with different species - I can perfectly grow tulips, penstemons, lupins, sedums, etc in the space between and prefer to do so. It gives longer season of interest and better combinations of color. But I can understand people who have space, growing for cut flowers or simply prefer mono-culture. Unfortunately I do not have space to make separate garden rooms.

@krazyquilter And I certainly will never plant peony so close to the hedge as at one of MS pictures - see above link. For me and probably everyone on this forum it simply does not make sense. Those peonies are going to struggle and certainly better to be moved to another better suited place. They may give flowers, but nowhere on the scale of free-standing and well-spaced plants.

Last year my Red Charm had around 15-18 blooms. You squeeze it closer with another one and get may be 5? Perhaps if you want diversity it make sense.

I wish I have MS garden size. But I think probably refer to the crowded roots, that's why I made that comment.

Peonies that have space and no root competition with other plants (monoculture) can have 50+ blooms. We all choose conditions to our plants depending on taste and garden space.

Is that Itoh or tree peony? 50 blooms? Will the plant collapse. I only had 18 on my Itoh but I didn't stake or anything.

A developed lactiflora bush can have more than 50 blooms, I just stop counting after 50 My Peter Brand was 3 year old last year and had ~25 flowers (with side buds):


My Julia Rose, Itoh, also 3 year old last year had ~30 flowers, not at the same though which makes the blooming time longer:

Those are very beautiful, Anya!

They are indeed beautiful. 50 blooms, I can't wait. But honestly I only saw the top 4-5 blooms, the rest of the blooms are so low down that I didn't see them at all.

I have many peonies that are 2 feet or so apart. Maybe 3 foot is better... for photography 3 foot is better, you can get really good shots of the entire plant.