Peonies need plenty of light in order to bloom. Make sure your peonies are planted in a sunny part of the garden where they'll be in direct sunlight for at least 4-6 hours during the day. If you live in a hot climate (e.g., in the southern U.S.), make sure your peonies get a little shade during the late afternoon. Peonies are picky about how deeply they're planted. Put them in the ground a little too deep, and you may end up with a plant that has gorgeous foliage and no flowers. Take care to plant your peonies no more than 2 inches (5.1cm) beneath the soil. You may find it helpful to use a hand trowel with depth markers on it. If your peony is planted too deeply and refuses to bloom, you may need to replant it. Take care not to damage the root ball when you dig up the plant. It may take a year or 2 for your peony to start blooming after you transplant it. While most plants benefit from nutrient-rich soil, overdoing the fertilizer can cause your peonies to put all their energy into growing leaves instead of blossoms. This is especially true of nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. If you have poor soil, wait until early summer to add fertilizer, after the peonies have already bloomed. Bone meal, compost, and manure are good fertilizer options for peonies. Fertilize your peonies no more than once every few years, and only if they look undernourished (e.g., yellowish or spindly). Peony plants have an easier time surviving the winter if you cut down their foliage before the weather gets cold. However, doing it too early (e.g., in July or August) can result in your peonies blooming poorly the next year. Don't cut back your peonies until the early fall. As your peony blossoms begin to wilt, cut off the dead flowers with a pair of sharp shears. Cut down to the nearest strong leaf on the stem so that the empty stem doesn't stick out of the bush. Deadheading will not only make your plant look more attractive, but will encourage the peony to put its energy into making more flowers instead of growing seeds. If you want to cut live blooms from the plant, take care not to cut too many buds and leaves from the stem. Leave at least 2 sets of leaves behind so that the branch won't die. Insect pests, fungal infections, and other diseases can stunt your peonies and attack the flowers. While you can treat your plants with insecticides and anti-fungal treatments, the best way to protect your peonies is to prevent these pests from taking hold in the first place. To prevent fungal infections, disinfect your garden tools between uses and make sure your peonies are planted in well-draining soil. Keep your garden clean and weed-free to discourage harmful insects. You can also try introducing beneficial bugs into your garden to keep the pests under control, such as ladybugs and praying mantis. Part of the trick to getting peonies to bloom is simply giving them enough time! After starting from seed, it takes 4 to 5 years for a peony plant to reach maturity. Depending on how young your plants are, you may need to wait a few seasons before you see results. If you've recently moved or divided a peony plant, it will need some time to re-establish itself and start blooming again. This process can take up to 2-3 years. Most peonies only bloom for a short timetypically, about a week. However, different peony varieties bloom at different times of the spring and summer. This means that you can keep your garden alive with colorful blooms longer by choosing several different plants that blossom in succession. When selecting peony plants, check the labels to find out when they typically bloom. Try to get a variety of plants that are advertised as early, mid-season, and late bloomers. A few examples of early blooming peonies include fernleaf, dwarf, and Claire de Lune peonies. Some mid-season types include Itoh peonies and some types of Chinese peonies (such as the Clown peony and the Bride's Dream peony). Most Chinese peonies, including the Dinner Plate variety and the Nippon Beauty peony, are late bloomers.

Summary: Plant your peonies where they'll get 4-6 hours of direct sun. Make sure your peonies are planted no more than 12 inches (2.55.1cm) deep. Avoid giving the peonies too much fertilizer. Use caution when removing foliage from the plant. Deadhead any wilted flowers to promote more blooms. Treat and prevent any pests or diseases. Give your peonies a few years to bloom after planting them. Extend the blooming season by planting multiple types of peonies.

Asparagus ferns can be indoor or outdoor plants. It is your choice to plant them in a pot, hang them outside, or plant them directly in the ground. Make sure that you choose an open space that allows room for the plant to grow. Place it in a space that allows 4 feet of height and 3 feet of width to grow. Think carefully about the location because transitioning the plant from indoors to outdoors can be traumatic for it. If you do choose to change the location, gradually transition the plant during a course of two to three weeks. Start by moving it into a shaded area, like in a patio or under a tree. Then, move it into a place that receives more sunlight until eventually moving it into your chosen spot indoors. This plant needs daytime temperatures around 50 to 75F (around 10C-24C). Night temperatures are best around 50 to 65F (10-18C). Choose a spot that maintains an average room temperature. Asparagus ferns can grow in places with moist or dry air, but they do best in a place with moist air. To assure moist air, you can place a humidifier in a room adjacent to the room the fern is placed in. This plant will grow best in a place that has bright, but indirect lighting. It should not be placed fully in the sun. Too much direct sunlight will cause the needles to scorch and drop off of the plant. You will know that the fern is receiving too little sunlight if it the needles turn yellow. Plant it in a place that benefits from the morning sun. Asparagus ferns do best in soil that is rich, light, and slightly acidic. The soil should also be well-drained. Add peat moss to your soil or buy a peat moss planting mix. Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of several types of mosses that contribute to the right soil condition for your fern. Your soil is well-drained if water percolates through it easily. You can check this by digging a hole in your soil, filling it with water, and allowing it to drain. Your soil is well-drained if the water drops from 1 to 6 inches an hour.
Summary: Choose a location. Search for a location with a moderate temperature. Pick a place with good lighting. Find a slightly acidic soil.