The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1936-06-18
THE GARDEN
DEPARTMENT
Why Peonies Do Not Bloom And
What To Do About It
BY Ferdinand Wiener

Wn8C 10 DO ADOuC ~
Perhaps you were disappointed
because your peonies did not bloom
this year. This Is one of the prob
lens that Is brought to my atten-
ton frequently. So while the mat
ter is fresh in your find will tell
you some Of the principal reasons
for lack of bloom and what you can
do the balance of this season to in
sure bloom next year.
any one Of the following, or a
combination of them:
Too deep planting: (This Is a
very common cause). This produces
numerous shoots and few flowers
The shoots are slow in appearing,
weak, and as a consequence often
come blind"-that Is, produce no
flowers at all; or If they do pro-
duce buds, they are very small and
fail to develop. Plant so that the
eyes at the top of the root are from
two to three inches beneath the
surface Of the soil, depending on
the nature of the soil.
Recent Transplanting: Some
times, the first year after trans
planting, especially If the division
Is small, or from an unhealthy
plant, peony bush will produce
few flowers.
Too Much Shade: This causes a
weak vegetative growth and few
flowers. If plants are planted too
close to large trees or shrubs,
which rob the peony of moisture
and food, this also may cause fall
ure to bloom.
Late Frosts: Sometimes late frost
destroys the blooms on shoots
which are above ground. This does
not happen often, however, and 1t
is seldom If ever that the foliage
is affected.
Lack of Moisture and Fertility in
the Soil: Peonies require a great
deal of moisture several weeks
prior and up to the blooming per-
iod, and should be given ample wa
ter during this time. After the
blooming period this is not so nee
essary.
Peonies are heavy feeders and a
lack of fertility will affect bloom
ing. The best source of food for
peonies is a complete plant food.
For established peonies, apply at
the rate of one rounded table
spoonful per square foot of space
surrounding the bush. This should
be applied just as soon as the eyes
have sprouted and are visible above
the ground, working the plant food
into the soil, and being careful not
to injure the sprouts, or bloom will
be destroyed. Repeat this applica-
ton after the Towering period.
Removal of top growth: Remov-
ing the entire top growth OF the
plant after the blooming season is
over prevents the plant from stor-
ing up food for next years bloom.
If the flowers have been cut, no
additional cutting will be necessary
until frost has killed the top
growth. Then it should be cut off
and burned.
If flowers are permitted to re-
main on the plant, 1t Is necessary
to cut them off when the bloom
fades to prevent all of the strength
of the plant going into the devel-
opment of seeds.
Botrytis: A fungus disease al
fecting peonies. 1t spreads more or
less rapidly, depending upon soil
and weather conditions. 1t some
times attacks the bud when 1t IS
about a half inch in diameter,
blasts it, and kills the stem down.
ward to about six inches. This dis
ease is the most prevalent during
close, warm, moist weather, and
upon plants heavily fortified with
manure.
hope you can judge from the
above what is ailing your peonies.
If you decide you planted them to
deeply, give them a feeding OF
complete plant food several times
this summer and then dig them up
and replant them in fall. This also
applies to plants which are getting
too much shade. If lack Of moisture
was the cause, little can be done at
this time but it is well to remem-
Der that peonies require much wa
ter during the two or three weeks
period prior to blooming time.
AS soon as botrytis appears, re-
move the affected parts with
knife, being sure to cut down to
clean wood. The diseased stocks
should be burned. After frost, the
entire top should be removed ana