Planting: Before planting your peony, you’ll want to find the perfect location. Peonies do not transplant well, so ideally, where you plant your peony is where they will stay. Since they do not like to compete for food and water, keep them away from other shrubs and trees.

For light, peonies prefer full sun. In cold climates, peonies can develop weak stems and fewer flowers without enough sun. Hot climate gardeners, however, may want to provide some afternoon shade.

The best time of year to plant peonies is early fall so they have time to get established before the winter. Add compost to the soil before planting and dig a hole the length of the roots. Too deep can affect how the plant flowers.

Water: Peonies require moderate watering of once a week or more if you live in a hot climate or plant peonies in containers. Soil should be well-draining. Stakes will prevent the peonies from flopping over due to wind and heavy rain.

Fertilizer: Fertilize regularly during each growing seasons to maximize blooms, using bone meal or a rose fertilizer.

Pruning: After the plant has finished flowering, remove spent blooms so they have enough energy for next year’s flowers. Once your peonies are done growing after the first frost, cut back the stems and the leaves entirely to prevent any diseases from affecting new growth in the spring.