tree peony

Tree peonies should be watered deeply once per week. Water the plant slowly to ensure the soil absorbs the water rather than running off. During spring, summer and autumn, ensure the plant is watered until the soil is moist down to a depth of at least 8 inches. During the winter months, restrict watering to once per month and only water if the soil is dry.

Tree peonies need at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight each day for optimal growth and flowering. This amount of light can come from both direct and indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause the leaves to burn, while too little will result in weakened stems and sparse flowering. It's best to provide tree peonies with morning sun and the protection of shade in the afternoon.

Tree peonies should be pruned in late winter or very early spring before new growth begins. Pruning should be done lightly, removing only 1-third of the oldest stems of the plant down to 1 bud each. All new shoots should be left intact as these provide the main flowering display and die back naturally in the winter. The best time to prune is in the late fall just after the foliage has dropped. This will give the tree time to heal its wounds before new growth begins in the spring. Additionally, any stems crossing each other can be pruned as well as stems weaker than the others.