Question
I have several peonies plants growing in my back yard.  I am planning to enlarge my patio, but in order to do that I will have to move at least 2 of my peonies.  I will like to do this project this summer, because I want to have it completed by next fall.  The plants that I will be moving are very health.  

thanks

Answer
Hi Leah:

Peonies are plants that hate to be moved, or disturbed in any way. Never try to divide a peony because it won't work.

Your best bet is do it in very early spring as soon as you see the first sprout. Moving it won't be a one man job because you will have to try and get all the roots--They are tubers that look like small sweet potatoes. That means digging way out from the sprouts so you disturb the plant as little as possible. Dig it up and put it on a tarp and drag the tarp to where you have a hole already prepared.

It is a good idea to fill your hole with water and let it soak into the ground first. That way the roots hit moist ground right away. Do not fertilize for a couple of months.

Be careful not to break off any sprouts. Each sprout is a branch that comes from a tuber and if broken off they won't come again this year. Plant it at the same height as it was growing before.

Your Peony will probably not have many flowers, if it has any, and will be not be as bushy this year. Next year it will be better and eventually be back to the way it was before you moved it.

Hope this helps                             Myrna