Question: Monday, November 06, 2000
daylilies - I was given some "corms"(?) and I want to know how deep to plant them. Also, ok to plant them now?
peonies- how far do I cut them back? when can I divide them and what special additives do they need, if any. Also, will they bloom the same year they are transplanted? Thanks! I try to listen to your show every Sat. on CFRB. it's great.
Answer:
The root part of the day lily is referred to as a rhizome and yes get them into the ground straight away - plant at about six inches. Peonies are best moved in the early fall, after blooming. Remove the flower stems after blooming but leave the foliage in tact until the following spring apart from keeping tidy. Leaving the foliage throughout the winter assists in retaining snow cover and hence insulation for the roots. They enjoy a sunny location and are intolerant of heavy shade and invasive roots from nearby shrubs or trees. Ideally plant in a well-drained, sandy-clay soil with the tip of the lowest bud no more than two inches below the surrounding soil. Thorough and frequent watering should be carried out in dry summers and an annual application of a balanced fertilizer applied immediately after flowering will improve future blossoming. If you feel division is required, ensure each division has several eyes. Sometimes peonies resent transplanting and take a couple of season to rebloom.
Groundskeeper@marksgarden.com
