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Peonies..Should they be mulched?

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by comfrey on October 19, 2005 06:33 AM
Ok...My mom says NOT [Frown] to mulch around the peonies for the winter, But a good friend says oh yes they do need to be mulched. So whats the verdict??? I am in zone 7b, my mom is in zone 7a and my friend 7b also. [dunno] [dunno] [dunno]

To mulch or not to mulch is the question?

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by afgreyparrot on October 19, 2005 09:11 AM
Hmmm...I mulch everything.
I'm a mulch freak. Buy it by the dumptruck load. [Roll Eyes]

I have hundreds of peonies...well, most of them I've moved to my daughter's now...but I always have mulch around them...and so does she.

I'm in zone 6 something [nutz] ...southeast Kentucky.

Cindy Marie

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by comfrey on October 19, 2005 11:08 AM
Ok...Well I would think that they would need mulching also...but my mom has been growing peonies forever...So does that mean [Wink] "Mother doesn't always know what is best"? LOL [flower] [flower]

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by afgreyparrot on October 19, 2005 12:32 PM
quote:
So does that mean "Mother doesn't always know what is best"? LOL
No...that means I am just lucky probably! [Big Grin]

I've had my peonies since 1983...some in sun, some in shade, some mulched, some not...they all grow the same. I have too many of them to take care of...but they must love me!

Everything I plant grows like a weed...
I can transplant anything no matter what time of the year and it never dies...
I have a bazillion plants in my yard and don't know if they are planted in the "right spot" or not, but they always grow and bloom...

I have no idea what I am doing...
...but it always works out!

Just lucky! [dunno] [grin]

Cindy

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by comfrey on October 19, 2005 01:38 PM
I seem to have the same kind of luck, nothing dies even when I want it to. And I planted these peonies 3 yrs ago when I moved here and have never mulched them..LOL this is the first year I even cut them back. And as you will notice even the [kitty] hasn't effected them.
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by Cricket on October 19, 2005 03:28 PM
When I lived in zone 3b [scaredy] my peonies were never mulched, dead-headed, cut back, fertilized, or for that matter watered except for what the rains and snow provided. Complete neglect and they bloomed proficially each spring. However, the peonies were planted against the foundation of the house that might have been a microclimate but hey, when you are living in winter temperatures of -40F for a couple weeks on end, how much protection can a microclimate really provide? [dunno]
by njoynit on October 19, 2005 09:07 PM
I'm peony cursed. [dunno] I managed to kill the ones cindy sent me [tears]
I've potted them....and their STILL dead.I believe its a WEE TOO HOT IN TX for them .I'm going to seriously look for some nice real looking SILK ones....I can always drop dots of hot glue on the leaves and say its DEW. [tongue]

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit
http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03
by afgreyparrot on October 19, 2005 09:14 PM
quote:
I've potted them....and their STILL dead.
Uhhh... [nutz]
...yeah, when something is dead it pretty much stays dead! [Big Grin] [lala]

Better get ya some fake ants to glue on them, too! [Big Grin] [tongue]

Cindy Faye

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Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car!
by comfrey on October 19, 2005 10:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by afgreyparrot:
Better get ya some fake ants to glue on them, too! [Big Grin] [tongue]

Cindy Faye [/QB]
[Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [Big Grin]

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by comfrey on October 19, 2005 10:46 PM
Ok..so "Mother might be right on this one after all"

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by weezie13 on October 20, 2005 07:47 PM
Listen to your momma Comfrey..
Honestly...

They are a very hardy plant...
And enjoy the cold more than the heat..
*as Njoynit finds out*

Anddddddd to add more insult to injury,
when you add mulch around them,
and don't pull it back later in the very early spring...
your plants may come up thru it, but more than
likely will NOT flower...
cause they have to be at a certain height,
or depth from the top of the soil....
For them to produce flowers..
anything more on top and they struggle..

And I agree with Cricket, I do the same,
I do nothing except admire them and smell them...
No water, fertilizers, mulch, nothing....
Mine are also in several growing places, like Crickets...
y the house, out in back, in the sun and in the shade..so.....
go off and give your attention to something else that really needs your time... [thumb]

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2

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http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/
by comfrey on October 21, 2005 07:59 AM
Ok...peonies are off the list for anything more for them this season!!!! Thanks for all the input. [thumb]

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by njoynit on October 27, 2005 01:07 AM
dam I guess I shouldn't have watered them...but they probably died of thirst anyway [muggs]

I guess my zoneal denial goes up& down BOTH spectrums... [angel] glad it has better luck with the tropicals(I can't grow tulips either.....or hycaniths very well either )

comfrey....those are nice.maybe just freeze dry me a whole plant [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [tongue]

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I will age ungracefully until I become an old woman in a small garden..doing whatever the Hell I want!

http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit03
http://community.webshots.com/user/njoynit
http://photos.yahoo.com/njoynit03
by comfrey on October 27, 2005 07:31 AM
quote:
Originally posted by njoynit:
comfrey....those are nice.maybe just freeze dry me a whole plant [Big Grin] [Big Grin] [tongue]
Well I never watered mine nor did I weed them all summer & this was the first year I even cut them back, and the weeds were as high as the plants, in fact when I cleaned the flower bed out, I had a deep wheel barrow full of weeds, I found a Lemon Balm plant surviving under all of the weeds, I remember dumping some potting soil out of a large pot that lemon balm had been growing in, but had died, so there must have been seed in the dirt that sprouted, it was off to one side so I left it to grow. I can make tulips live under extreme circumstances, and iris seem to thrive with no attention also. Speaking of tulips, here are few pictures of mine:
Tulips
And here are some of my iris & lillies:
Iris

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