This Week in the Garden
Deadheading Peonies

Once peonies have finished blooming, it is time to remove the spent flowers and seed heads. Cutting these back helps redirect the plant’s energy away from seed production and into root and foliage development for the rest of the growing season. Stems should be trimmed back several leaves below the wilted flower. This will even out the shrub and create a nice shape for the rest of the summer.

As the old flower stems are removed, the plant can also be lightly shaped into a more uniform form. Cutting back uneven or collapsed stems encourages a fuller, more balanced shrub habit. Any dead or fallen stems should be removed, while still-blooming stems are left intact until they finish. With spent blooms cleared and the plant shaped, peonies continue growing through summer, storing energy that supports strong flowering the following year.

Related Videos:
​Why do my peony buds die just as they start to bloom?
My peonies have a powdery look with black spots. What do I do?
What fungicide can I use to prevent phytophthora leaf blight in peonies?
My peonies have botrytis. Is it worth transplanting them?
Besides dividing peonies, how else can you contain the width?
How do I get rid of the blight on my peonies?

Related Resources:
The Beloved Peony
Peonies: Long-lived, Voluptuous Beauties