I cover all my peonies with a fluffy potting mix in order to protect them from ice or other physical damage. New peonies are recommended to be covered with an inch or so of soil plus possibly some breathable mulch to help prevent heaving unless there is dependable snow cover. I use a paint brush to sweep the excess soil away in the spring in order to give the new eyes/pips sunlight. There are a lot of peony growers on this forum so someone should be able to give you the best advice for your area.
