00:00Growing peonies is easy and pays huge dividends. Their beautiful fragrant blooms can't be beat
00:06and their glossy green foliage adds interest even after the spring display is done.
00:11Cut back peonies in the fall to about three inches high.
00:15Throw away any diseased foliage. Don't put it in your compost pile.
00:20Peonies are generally pest free, but they do occasionally suffer from powdery mildew later
00:25in the summer. They may also have trouble with Botrytis blight, which is caused by cool,
00:31wet weather. Water early in the day and maintain good airflow around plants to prevent problems.
00:38To grow bigger blooms, try disbudding your peonies. Simply pinch off the smaller side buds,
00:45leaving the main terminal flower bud. Disbudding will result in less blooms,
00:50but each flower will be bigger and better formed. Peonies look just as good in a vase as they do
00:56in
00:57the garden. They make excellent cut flowers that last several days. Cut blooms just before they
01:03open. Gently squeeze buds to see if they are ready. They should feel like a marshmallow with a little
01:08bit of give. Don't take more than one-third of the flowers from a peony. This will keep your plant
01:15healthy and blooming well next year. Until next time, happy gardening!
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