In warmer areas of the South, they should be planted even later. Peonies do not need a lot of fertilizing. Peonies establish a vigorous root system the first two years after planting. Fertilizing peonies is an easy an enjoyable spring task in the perennial flower garden. If you must move a mature plant, fall is the time to do it—specifically, when the plant has gone dormant. But taking into account the peculiarities of this or that region, it is necessary to take into account one more important factor when determining the optimal timing for feeding pions - the approaching frosts. Peonies should be planted in the fall, ideally from late September to October. Peony plants are low-maintenance and don’t require any fussy care once established. Peonies should be settled into place about six weeks before the ground freezes. Experienced gardeners advise in the fall to feed peonies in the period from mid-September to the second decade of October. When herbaceous peonies die back in fall, clean up the foliage to reduce the chance of a disease. Along with the fact that their foliage is prone to mildew, that is reason enough to cut them back in the fall. The foliage needs to be removed so they don’t spread disease, their stems need to be cut back to encourage next years growth, and they also need to be fed to stay healthy. Healthy foliage will turn golden in fall—that's your sign to prune! If you don't want to use your refrigerator, you can place the peonies in an unheated garage instead. Infected foliage can be removed in late summer. Less frequent chores, like deadheading peonies after flowering and cutting back peonies in fall are not demanding tasks but play a key role in keeping this perennial productive. After bloom time, add a bit of fertilizer around the plant. You could also add bone meal in the fall. If peonies are planted in spring, they may not bloom for the first few years. Peonies need a period of cold to set buds for the following season. Potted peonies may be transplanted in the fall or spring. Care for tree and Itoh peonies is similar, but you do not cut back tree peonies. USDA growing zones: 2 to 9 Plant peonies in the fall: in late September and October in most of the U.S., and even later in the fall in Zones 7 and 8. Peony Plant Care Peonies require at least 10 hours of sunshine every day. Even so, many gardeners do like to give them a bit of a bloom boost with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer in the springtime. (Find your planting zone here.) Roots are planted with just an inch or two of soil over the eyes (buds). Once you take care of that, maintaining healthy plants depends on the basics: watering and fertilizing peonies. Fertilize in early spring. Plant bare root peonies in the fall - prime peony planting season. Deadhead the spent flowers after bloom. Peonies are hardy and can survive cold winters, but they need help to be prepared for their dormant period.