Peonies

Question

Only owning my first house (and garden) in the last 6 months, I am getting to grips with the garden plants I have inherited. I have 2 peonies that bloomed last year and then I haven’t done anything with them since. I think I should have cut them back in the winter but I didn’t know that so I left them to do their own thing. The 2 plants now are all brown, look like 2 dead/withered plants. However, some new red shoots have come through the soil immediately surrounding the 2 original plants. I don’t know if these are new peonies or just a weed that seems to like growing near peonies. Should I cut back to the original plants or just leave them to do their own thing?

Answer 1

Yes cut them back in winter, I mulch but I am in zone 5, fertilize in spring. What I think you are seeing is the new growth. Perhaps buy a new plant if u have room, and look at the root system to become familiar the plant.