Deep and wide. But before putting spade to soil check out this link for starters

www.hollingsworthpeonies.com/dividing_and_replanting_a_peony

This is a good place to start for those looking to divide or replant their peonies. Other questions or concerns you will be able to find an email address within to direct those to us personally

Thank you for visiting the area Don. Good to have you here.

Tracey

Yay, a true expert among us!

Oh boy gonna check out Don's link for my floriculture in peonies.

Welcome Don. Love your peonies.

It could be Lucas instead of Don. Either way those guys know their peony!

I just found your cubit!

I have a question. I do know that spring is not the ideal time to move peonies - but it had to be done. Long story. Anyway, last weekend, a friend and I moved quite a few peonies. I did cut the buds off of them. Some look like they have never been moved, and others have the top half to one third wilted.

I am unsure about "cutting them back" because you can't really cut half the stem off and leave foliage... most of the foliage is at the top. Should I cut every other stem to the ground? Or, should I just let them be?

How much of the root ball did you get when you moved them?

Some we were able to get a large root ball, and others we were not. I was moving them from nasty heavy clay to a nice prepared soil, so I did take off a lot of soil if it was possible without destroying the roots.

If it was me, I would take the ones that are looking poorly and divide them down to about five or so eyes a division and cut off about half of the top growth and replant. That's what I would do. Good luck.

Ok! Thanks so much!

I had three ummm, do you call them clumps of peonies? they are not bushes... hmmm

Well anyway, I had three that were my Mom's great Aunt's. My Mom is 85, so they have been in her family a long time. This is, three clumps of the same peony... not three different cultivars.

Fortunately, we only had to move two of them. I'll move one more this fall, and the final one the fall after that. They are the only ones that cannot be replaced.

Several of the ones I moved were from a friend, who I am no longer in touch with. She had quite a collection. I hope they do well, as I dearly love them.

I have been around gardening for 30 years, but have never moved peonies. I was so surprised when I saw how HUGE some of the ... do you call them tubers?... were.

I think - if they make it - they will be a lot happier where they are now than where they have been for the last few years.

When you decide to move the others this fall, you should divide them too. You'll have happier and stronger plants for it in the long run.

I have about seven that I need to move somewhere this fall. Of course, I've been saying that for three years now. I just need to get the bed ready NOW so that I will actually move them this fall. LOL I'll get there.

Of course, I'll probably have several new ones to put in the ground next to them. There is nothing like a Peony addiction, unless it's a Lily addiction, or an Iris addiction or worst of all, a Hosta addiction!! *ARGH*