Dividing Peonies

September is the best time to rejuvenate old peony bushes by dividing them. The entire plant must be dug and lifted out of its original site. Care must be taken to not damage the roots during this process.

Once the plant is dug out, it can be gently washed. Use a sterilized sharp knife to cut it into several clumps. Each clump should contain several swollen eyes (from which next years’ stems grow). It is important to re-plant the divisions at the same depth as the original. The eyes should not be deeper than 1”.