Hi, I am wondering if anyone on forum tried to use root control bags for tree peonies for a few years and what came out of it. Thinking of getting TP with a chance of moving it in a few years time. Do not want to kill it during the move.

I have read where the plastic bags such as grocery store bags could be used for temporary planting regular peonies in order to let them grow until a suitable space could be found. For a short time only and holes must be cut in the bags. Handy for lifting an entire plant out of a hole without damaging the roots. Permanent planting in a bag does not sound like a good idea.

I actually was thinking about utilizing some fabric grocery bag if I can find one big enough for the job or maybe trying to construct something out of landscape fabric myself. It seems overwintering something in the pot outside does not work for me - drainage after soil freezes is really poor. I could find some big plastic pot and just leave it above ground, but find them unattractive. Not sure about moving peonies to garage - feel it would be more productive to keep in the ground with root bag?

By the way, Jerry, how long your Roselette blooms on average and I noticed the sand around the clump - is it as tricky as fern peonies with drainage?

I am not certain how long it blooms but it is very early around the time of 'Early Scout'. I may have some older dated pics. I frequently cover the eyes or pips of the early risers with sand or very sandy soil if the weather is forecasted to be extra cold. We are looking for lows slightly below freezing for a week or so with one night of 9°F. I am planning to cover them for awhile. The sand or very sandy soil brushes away with a regular paintbrush so the eyes are not damaged. Once I covered some peonies during cold nights and moisture gathered on the leaves and froze into ice. Learned to leave them alone and let them fend for themselves.

Pics of 'Roselette' and 'Early Scout' from 2013. As far as length of bloom time, it depends upon weather conditions just the same as for all peonies.
Early Scout April 30.

Roselette May 3.

@Jerry I wish my Roselette was as prolific in blooms as yours. It always blooms but just three or four at most. Same with Pink Hawaiin Coral. Only one bloom each year. I will try composting around the base and check the pH. Maybe too alkaline for some reason. Our soil is normally rather acid. If anything I have trouble with moss and such.

have a 'Judith Eileen' planted in the fall of 2010 so it has had 5 years to develop. Never did well, low eye and stem count, and very few blossoms. Three others in the same bed and 2 more outside the bed increased normally. JE was on the low end of the bed so it could have been too wet most of the time. Last fall, I dug it and put it into a new raised bed for a test. Many forum members say they have had great results by moving peonies to a more suitable location. If they are not doing well, there is not much to lose by moving them.

I thought exactly the same thing, Mary Stella! I haven't gotten a bloom yet from my Roselette, though, and last year was its 2nd spring. Might be too shady where it is, if it doesn't do much, much better it'll be moved this fall. GORGEOUS, Jerry!

Hello, just new here and this is my first post!

Did you end up using the root bags?

I planted a Shima Nishiki in a five gallon root bag about a month ago (it looks like a first year graft- with a big nurse root, one main stem and several tight shoots coming from the one stem at time of purchase).

It's definitely doing ok even in dappled shade, with the leaves unfurling nicely. I am planning on leaving it in this pot for another year plus.

I am using the same root bags for baby fig trees. I have been pretty happy with these bags so far.

Hi Daisy, welcome to the forum! Not yet - did not buy TP yet. I will certainly consider it as I am having troubles with overwintering anything in plastic pots even up to the brim in the soil and extra limestone screening outside of the pot. Someone is sending me TP seeds, so will start with small customs-sewn.

Good luck with the TP seeds.

I got my root bags from Lee Valley, they go from 1 gallon to 20 gallon sizes. No five gallon though, had to go to local store for that.

This summer I have plunged several of them in the ground, conserves a bit of water. Mainly using them for figs, either as permanent homes or temporary until I decide whether the baby trees are keepers or not. The first winter I kept in unheated shed, the next winter I just placed beside the house (north facing and under roof) and they were totally fine. The fabric in my oldest pots are holding up to two years now. Supposedly lasts five years.

I'm probably putting another baby TP in a 5 or 7 gallon root bag this fall when the order comes. Another temporary home for maybe two years until I'm sure of the plant and placement.

Here's the Shima Nishiki-


And my row of figs in root bags-

Actually come to think about it - it make sense to plant them in the pot until the graft is fully independent - it is easier to cut herbaceous peony root from the graft that way. Very sturdy root bag you've got :)
One of the few TP I am considering is Shima Nishiki, very striking flowers. It looks very comfy there.

Ha ha, I sure did not have a problem with getting the graft union at least 4" deep! Much simpler than digging a hole more than 12" deep.

I'll have to try to remember to update this thread next spring...good thing as gardeners we are trained in long term planning.

I recall an article in the APS journal discussing using perforated plastic grocery store bags for temporarily planting peonies to hold for moving to a permanent location. Avoids damaging new roots rather than regular planting and digging later.

I gotta laugh a bit.
I put a book on hold at the library a few weeks ago and finally got it today.
"The Gardener's Peony" by Martin Page, 2005 edition.

On page 207 last paragraph (verbatim) he states:
"If you intend to move house in the near future, plant the tree peony in a root-control bag and then dig a large hole in your garden. The tree peony will grow happily until the time comes to move, whereupon the plant can be moved lock, stock, and barrel to its new home. The root control bag can then be cut off, exposing the well developed root system."

He states the tree peonies can be grown in pots for a few years, and to chose a pot at least 30cm/12" across. Also recommends using a rich soil-based medium.

So there you go, you got the right idea, Alex.

Cricket hill garden sell root control bags for tree peonies:
https://www.treepeony.com/prod...

Thanks, Daisy and Littlebin. It confirms it.