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Tree peony. How to plant, how to care, reproduction
Peonies are among the most beautiful plants that adorn our gardens. Thanks to the many species and varieties of perennials, peonies are simply irreplaceable as an ornamental plant, and among them the peony tree-like cultivation of which gives so much pleasure. The plant is a luxurious shrub with many large flowers of various shades, used to decorate gardens in the Japanese style, looks good on the background of landscaped lawns.
Content
- general information video
- Site Requirements
- Tree Peony - Varieties
- Tree Peony - Planting
- Tree peony care
- Tree Peony Diseases
- Tree Peony - Reproduction video
general information
Tree peonies were brought to Europe from China, where they have been grown for more than 2000 thousand years. At home, this type of peony has the same meaning as, for example, a rose for us - in Japan and China, peony petals are added to jam and decorate with them confectionery.
Depending on the variety, a sprawling shrub can reach up to 4 m in height, flowers up to 25 cm in diameter, and the color is completely diverse - from white to purple. The shrub blooms in May-June and delights with flowering from two weeks to a month.
Site Requirements
To enjoy the beauty of a flowering peony, he needs to provide all the necessary conditions. Tree-like peony prefers southern or western, sunny place not subject to cold winds. Pay attention to the quality of the soil, it should be - not marshy, fertile, drained, pH of 6.5-7.5.
Peony needs a good supply of moisture, for this reason it is better to choose a site for planting, where there are no competitors - large shrubs and trees. Before planting, dig up the earth and fertilize with compost.
Tree Peony - Varieties
The tree peony is distinguished by a variety of varieties and the best of them have become the most popular in Europe.
Among the interesting varieties, it is worth noting the Golden Age (Age of Gold), this shrub reaches a meter in height, blooms with silky terry yellow flowers about 20 cm in diameter.
Chinese grade Yu Pan Tuo Jin flower resembles a pink or white lotus, has a strong aroma.
Variety Yan Long Zi stands out among others with dark cherry flowers, the height of the bush is 1.5 m.
Large pink flowers with a diameter of 25 cm are characterized by the Imperial Crown variety.
The most luxurious flower, perhaps, is the Japanese variety of Shima-nishiki (Shima-nishiki), a large semi-double flower has several colors - white and red, white and pink, sometimes you can find both colors on the same shrub.
Tree Peony - Planting
Shrubs of tree peony should be planted in September, so the plant will have time to grow stronger until the first frosts, if planting occurs in spring, the first buds (if any) must be nipped off. The size of the pit depends on the size of the root, usually it is no more than 60-70 cm in diameter, a tree peony needs a deep landing (10-15 cm).
Before planting, compost, peat and sand are added to the hole, for a better development of the roots, the bush is planted under a slight slope. The seeds of a tree peony during planting do not give such growth and flowering as shrubs, and moreover, when propagated by seeds, a tree peony blooms only after 8-10 years.
Tree Peony - Care
Watering a peony is very important in the first 2-3 years after planting, moisture reduces the temperature of the earth in the summer and helps the proper development of the root system. A shrub grows slowly, the first flowers give a peony a few years after planting. The tree peony is resistant to frost, but the first three years its roots should be covered for the winter with a layer of bark and fallen leaves.
Pruning a tree peony is limited to removing damaged and dry shoots. To rejuvenate the old shrub, cut off all branches, leaving 30-40 cm above the ground. Fertilize the peony in the first year of planting with compost or manure, this will be enough in the following years of the life of the bush.
Complex fertilizers for peony are not recommended, since an overdose of mineral substances is possible. Potash fertilizer in the form of ash is welcome, which will increase the number of flowers.
Tree Peony Diseases
During the rainy summer, peony is affected by gray rot, it is easy to notice brown or gray spots on the leaves. Like septoria, gray rot is treated by spraying with celandine infusion (300 grams of fresh herb per 4 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours). If there are many affected stems, pesticides are used, and in autumn, infected shoots are removed and burned.
The most dangerous disease for the peony is wilting, the disease gradually kills the plant from the roots, the branches of the bush begin to wither without visible spots and pests. In this case, the entire shrub along with the roots is immediately removed and destroyed, otherwise the infection will go to other plants. Please note that the shoots wither and in the presence of the first frosts, if you suspect a cause of the disease, inspect the roots before destroying the shrub!
Tree Peony - Reproduction
Most often, a tree-like peony is propagated using seeds, dividing shrubs and cuttings.
Propagation of a Peony Tree Seed simple enough. Seeds are collected when the fruit is brown, for this purpose it is necessary to tie the seed carriers with a thin cloth at the end of August so as not to miss their disclosure. Around the middle of winter, seeds can be planted in containers for seedlings.
In spring, in May, strong shoots are planted on the prepared site. This method of propagation is used by agronomists to obtain new varieties, but sometimes genetic failures also occur - sprouts do not germinate, plants are weak, or do not bloom at all.
For breeding dividing the bush suitable plant, which is no more than three years old. Division is carried out at the end of August, cutting off the roots and planting the plant back.
Tree peony - propagation by cuttings, so called the next method of reproduction, it is somewhat complicated, but worth it. In early August, in the upper part of the bush we are looking for shoots with sleeping buds, they will open next year, and now they will serve as cuttings.
It is recommended to propagate a tree-like peony with grafted cuttings, so the future shrub will give more chances for survival and resistance to natural conditions. Peony roots must be prepared in advance, it can be the roots of a grassy peony, this technique will increase the frost resistance of the bush. We cut off the largest root and lower it for an hour in a disinfectant. We cut the stalk with two or three buds wedge-shaped, remove the leaves from above and below.
After disinfection with a sharp tool, we make an incision for the handle at the root, connect the parts and fix with a special tape. Until late autumn, the stalk must be in a warm room in the sphagnum, then it is planted on the site so that the tip of the sprout remains above the ground no more than 1 cm and is covered with a layer of leaves, grass, sawdust or bark for the winter.
