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Peony foliage

BusylizBusyliz Posts: 140
in Plants
When can I cut down the leaves? They are looking decidedly tatty with all the recent rain. Thanks in advance.

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    I don't cut mine down until they're completely dead, and they then just pull away from the plant. The plant needs them.  :)
    I just stick other things in front of them. They aren't very inspiring when they finish flowering anyway. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BusylizBusyliz Posts: 140
    Fairygirl does it affect next year's flowers if the leaves are taken off too early? I had sparse flowers this year.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    It certainly wouldn't benefit it, but as long as the plant is in the right spot, and is fed well, it should also flower well. Being planted too deep is the most common reason for poor flowering, or not flowering at all. 
    They can take a few years to mature, so if it's a young plant, it won't have a lot of flowers.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BusylizBusyliz Posts: 140
    The plants are very mature and up until this year always provided lots if flowers.  I will give them some extra tlc next spring. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    That might be all they need  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,024
    Why cut the foliage? I do like the foliage of my Peony 'Catharina Fontijn'; short blooming season but lovely summer & autumn foliage!

    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,358
    Unfortunately - the foliage never looks like that here @Papi Jo!
    Just turns brown very quickly and looks pretty hideous  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,022
    I pull off most of the tatty leaves and just leave a few. I don't know if it's the right thing to do but it flowers every year.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,544
    The leaves on mine still look beautifully fresh...they usually turn at the end of September which makes for a nice backdrop. But it's definitely location dependent. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,024
    My peony's foliage displaying even more vibrant colours this year!

    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
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