How to Transplant Peonies

Updated on 10/04/22

Reviewed by

Person pulling out a peony plant — The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Project Overview

Working Time: 20 - 30 mins
Total Time: 20 - 30 mins

Skill Level: Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $0 to $20

The permanence of peonies is one of the qualities that make them such an enduring perennial in the garden. However, the same features that make peonies a sturdy and long-lived plant can also make them a challenge to transplant. Sometimes a move becomes a necessary alternative to plant loss. Perhaps that peony you installed a decade ago beside a young sapling today flounders in the shade of a now-mature oak tree. Maybe you've decided to add a gazebo or patio to your landscape, and a special peony stands in the way of progress. Or perhaps you or a family member might be moving away, and you can't bear to leave behind an heirloom peony plant, one that has become as necessary and dear as a family pet. Learn about the timing and steps required to complete a successful peony transplant.

When to Transplant Peonies

Knowing when to transplant your peonies is half the battle of a successful move. For peonies, fall is the ideal time to dig up the plants. The exact timing differs by region, but mid-August for Northern gardeners and early November for Southern gardeners is a general guideline. In the fall, peonies are preparing for dormancy. Their metabolism slows, causing growth and development to stop. This change helps perennial plants save energy, and minimizes stress to roots during the move.

If it's spring and you're preparing for a move very soon, weigh the possibility of plant damage or death against your desire to take the plant with you. Severely stressed plants may not bloom again for several years and may be vulnerable to attack by fungal diseases or insect pests.

Equipment / Tools

Shovel

Materials

Compost

Identify a New Site

Peonies need full sun to get the energy to create those massive blooms. Because peonies only bloom once a year, it's disappointing to get only a few blooms straining toward the sun. Choose a site that gets at least six hours of full sun each day. The north side of your home will not provide this. If you are using peonies as a foundation plant, the east or south side of your home will have the strongest light.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Prepare the Soil

Peonies need soil with good drainage. Neither sticky clay nor sandy gravel will yield a healthy peony, but the cure for both situations is the same: amending the soil with compost. Mix it in 50/50 with the native soil. You don't want to create a planting hole that's so enriched and fluffy that the roots never want to extend beyond it; rather, you must give your transplanted peony a booster to alleviate shock while also encouraging adaptation to the new home.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Dig Up the Peony

Don't skimp on the rootball you will need to dig up when transplanting a peony. A peony's health begins with the health of the rootstock, so you will want to preserve as much as you can while minimizing any damage that might provide a pathway for insects or diseases.

Measure at least 18 inches from the crown when you start digging. Dig straight down, and pause to pry around the rootball until you feel the entire plant begin to lift. Do not lift the plant by the stems; breakage will ensue. If the rootball is too heavy to lift from its hole, gently wash away some of the soil from the roots.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Identify the Eyes

Peony planting depth is a critical matter that will determine future blooming for decades. To determine the ideal planting depth, locate the eyes on the peony rootball. This is one of those plant terms that doesn't make much sense, but if you think of the eyes as buds and look for pinkish nubs at the base of the crown you will locate them. These eye buds are next year's flowering stems. If you bury them too deeply, they will never emerge and develop.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Plant the Peony

Place the eyes just beneath the soil's surface, no more than 2 inches deep. This is true even in cold climates. No worries, as these dormant eye buds will not be damaged by frigid winters.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald
Plant the Peony

Fill the planted hole by hand with your amended soil. The dexterity of your hands is better than using garden tools here, as you can gently tamp the soil down and ensure that there are no air pockets without damaging the roots.

Water well, but don't oversaturate the soil. It shouldn't be necessary to water again unless your weather forecaster says that a true drought is happening. Peonies entering their dormant state and going to bed for the winter in a soggy bed is an invitation to rot.

When spring arrives, look for emerging reddish-purple stems to let you know that your peony has settled into its new home.

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald