If you're lucky enough to enjoy the spectacular blooms of Primrose Hall Peonies in your garden, you'll know there's nothing quite like their luxurious petals and heady fragrance in late spring and early summer. But what happens once those beautiful flowers have finished blooming? It’s time to deadhead your peonies.

What is Deadheading?

Deadheading is the process of removing spent flowers from plants. In the case of peonies, deadheading doesn’t just tidy up the plant – it plays a crucial role in encouraging healthy growth, preventing seed formation, and maintaining the overall appearance of your garden.

Why Should You Deadhead Peonies?

Once peony flowers have faded, they start to form seed pods. While this is a natural process, allowing the plant to focus energy on seed production can weaken the root system and reduce next year’s blooms. By deadheading peonies, you're helping the plant conserve its energy and direct it towards strengthening its roots and foliage, rather than producing seeds.

Here are the top benefits of deadheading peonies:

• Promotes vigorous root growth
• Keeps the plant looking neat and attractive
• Reduces risk of fungal diseases
• Improves the quality of next year’s blooms

When to Deadhead Peonies

The best time to deadhead peonies is as soon as the blooms begin to fade and petals start to fall. Depending on the variety and location, this is typically in late May to early July. Be sure to check your peonies regularly so you can deadhead them promptly.

How to Deadhead Peonies: Step-by-Step

Deadheading peonies is a simple task that requires only a clean, sharp pair of secateurs or garden scissors.

1. Identify spent blooms: Look for flowers that have faded, lost their colour, or started to drop petals.
2. Make your cut: Cut the flower stem just above the first set of healthy leaves. This helps maintain the plant’s shape while preserving foliage needed for photosynthesis.
3. Avoid cutting too low: Don’t cut into the main stem or remove too many leaves – they’re vital for storing energy in the root system.
4. Dispose of cuttings: Collect and discard all deadheaded flowers to avoid attracting pests or mould.

Caring for Peonies After Deadheading

After deadheading, continue to care for your peonies by:

• Watering regularly during dry spells
• Feeding with a balanced fertiliser
• Mulching in autumn to retain moisture and improve soil health but not around the crown of the peony - be care not to allow mulch to build up around the base of the peony as this can cause your peony to stop flowering.

Keep Your Peonies Thriving

Deadheading is just one of the many ways to keep your Primrose Hall Peonies in peak condition year after year. With proper care, these timeless perennials will continue to reward you with breathtaking blooms and lush, healthy foliage.

For lots of peony care advice see Alec's book all about peonies.