We Asked a Pro Gardener How to Deadhead Peonies — His Top Tips for New Blooms

Key Points

Deadheading peonies helps the plant conserve energy for healthier growth and blooms next year.

Remove spent blooms by cutting below the dead growth to improve appearance and prevent disease.

Transplant peonies to a sunnier spot in fall to encourage better blooming in the spring.

The peony blooming season is a short but sweet one. When the last few petals have fallen, it’s time to deadhead your peonies for more than just looks—it’s also important for your plant’s health.

This guide covers why and how to remove spent peony blooms with advice straight from a pro so you can keep your shrubs nice and healthy for next year.

Meet the Expert

Keegan Nesvacil is the co-founder of Woodland Tools Co. and has been working in the lawn and garden industry for about 15 years.

When to Deadhead Peonies

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“The best time to deadhead blooms that have died is when the blooms have faded and are starting to wilt, but before the seed pods fully develop,” says garden pro Keegan Nesvacil. “Generally speaking, this occurs in the late spring or early summer.”

Timing is key when it comes to deadheading. Cutting the old blooms before the seed pods form allows the plant to store more energy, which means an overall healthier bush next year.

Why You Should Deadhead Peonies

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Aside from cleaning up the shrub’s appearance, Nesvacil notes that the process prevents diseases and prepares your peony plants to enter dormancy, which encourages a robust bloom in the following spring.

He also says removing secondary buds on the flowers before they bloom can encourage larger growth on the peony’s main bud.

The Best Way to Deadhead Peonies

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Deadheading peonies only takes three simple steps:

Clean your pruning shears or scissors, and check to make sure they are sharp enough for use.

Locate the wilting or dead part of the plant.

Cut through the stem, just below where the green growth transitions into dead growth. Make sure to support the base of the faded flower as you cut.

Deadheading Tip

Don’t trim back the foliage from peonies after they bloom until right after the first frost of the year. If you remove all the foliage too soon, you won’t get any flowers the next year.

Addressing Buds That Never Opened

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Not every peony bud makes it to the blooming stage. While it’s a common myth that ants help peonies bloom, a lack of opened buds doesn’t mean you need more ants in your yard.

If you have several brown buds that never opened, you’ll need to deadhead those, too. Your peony buds may fail to open if the plant receives too much shade or if they undergo frost damage in early spring.

You can transplant the bushes to a sunnier location in the fall and cover your bushes in early spring to encourage them to bloom more next year.

Frequently asked Questions

Do peonies re-bloom after deadheading?

Peonies will re-bloom the following season after deadheading them. However, they only experience one bloom season per year.

What can you do with peonies after you cut them?

Fresh peony blooms always make for lovely arrangements around the house, and old blooms can be composted. Dried peony petals also make for beautiful decor or potpourri additions.

Read the original article on The Spruce