When to Transplant Peonies: The Best Timing and Techniques

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The exact timing for when to transplant peonies depends on your climate. For some of us, this means we need to plan ahead. You may need to move a peony when you find a plant is suddenly in partial shade, which happens when larger plants fill in around them. I have transplanted peonies to move them into a better spot in a garden. When peonies are thriving, a gardener may want to dig up and divide a plant to share or to spread to other areas of the garden. Whatever the reason, it’s important to learn the timing of when to transplant peonies.

In this article, you’ll read about when to transplant peonies, how to prepare the peony plants for transplanting, step-by-step transplanting instructions, and how to help your peonies get reestablished afterward.

The importance of transplanting peonies correctly

You’ve heard the stories of peonies that have survived for generations in a garden or on a homestead. This is what’s possible from peonies that have been cared for over the years! And this is why it’s important to transplant peonies correctly.

Transplanting at the wrong time of year or doing so without dividing them can stunt their blossom potential and their lifespan. These fantastic plants are worth caring for because of their remarkable longevity.

a peony with powdery mildew — I have a few peonies that are on the list to be moved. The tree canopy in my backyard has changed over time. Many of my plants no longer get the light they once did, including this one, which has powdery mildew.

The best time to transplant peonies

Peonies will transplant best when the plants are going into dormancy. That happens in the fall. At this time, the roots are not actively pumping out energy to create new leaves and blooms. The plants have spent the spring and summer fortifying their roots with the sun, water, and nutrients they need to survive the winter.

When to transplant peonies based on the weather conditions

As the timing of our seasonal markers shift (think earlier summers and drier winters), it’s becoming more difficult to perform garden tasks based on weather conditions. Determining when to transplant peonies is that sweet spot when the weather is cooler—no intense summer heat zapping the life from a newly planted peony—and when the plant has a few weeks or a month to establish roots before the ground freezes.

a white peony in bloom — Transplanting a peony, especially if it’s not thriving in its current location, can help improve the health of the blooms and foliage.

Do you need to divide peonies when you transplant them?

The time to divide peonies is the same as when to transplant peonies. Dividing keeps the plants vibrant because it’s forcing them to grow new roots. Transplanting without dividing them gives the plants less reason to vigorously replace the roots you’ve trimmed away.

To end up with a plant that puts off vibrant blooms right away, the divided peony needs to have at least three buds (five is better) and a stout root system. Because peonies can grow into large plants with cumbersome root systems, plants in the three- to five-year-old range transplant best.

peony buds — You can see there are actually small buds among the root system.

Preparing peonies for transplanting

Choose the plants you want to dig and divide. Then, use sharp garden shears to cut off the foliage close to ground level. This is regular peony maintenance you may be doing around this time of year anyway.

Selecting the new planting location

Give your peony transplants the best start with the right planting location. These are the conditions peonies like best:

Peonies blooms put on the best show when the plant receives at least six hours of direct sun.
Think about how the plants surrounding this spot will grow over time, and avoid transplanting your peonies where they will soon be shaded by growing trees and shrubs.
Choose a spot in your garden that has well-draining soil.
Give your peonies three to four feet of space in between plants.

peony flower — I have a few peonies in my garden. Because my backyard has gotten shadier over time, the peonies that live in my backyard gardens would benefit from being moved.

What to do if the new location isn’t ready yet

In their dormant state, peonies can hold for up to a week before transplanting. You have two options:

Wrap each division in a few layers of moist newspaper.
Plant the roots in a big pot with a sterile medium, such as coconut coir, that’s barely wet.

Keep these peony divisions in a cool, shady spot, and move them to their transplant hole when it’s ready.

A step-by-step guide to transplanting peonies

The success of your new plants depends not just on when to transplant peonies, but how you transplant them, as well. This task can be done in three straightforward steps: digging up the plant, dividing the plant, and re-planting.

Step 1: Digging up the plant

Use a sharp spade to dig around, and then under, the root clump. To get all the way under the plant, dig a little trench in a circle at least 10 inches away from the plant on all sides. This trench gives you the angle needed to get underneath the main root system. Plants that have been in place for a few years will have a robust root system. Keep six to 10 inches of root system intact all the way around.

a dug up peony — The first peony I decided to move is one where it received more shade in the garden over time and just hasn’t flourished. It was quite spindly and small when I dug it up. I’m hoping it will prefer its new home in my front garden.

Step 2: Dividing the roots (if necessary)

Remove the loose soil from the tangle of roots so you can take a better look at the root system. If the clump is muddy and slick, wash the soil free from the roots to make it safer for you to handle while making cuts. Trim off any rotten areas. Decide where you want to make your divisions, careful to keep three to five buds on each section. Cut the crown and separate the roots from there.

pruning peony stems — Once you dig up your peony, prune the dying stems before replanting. The foliage on the one peony I moved had black spots, which could be botrytis blight. I made sure to trim them all away and then disinfected my pruners so as not to spread it.

Step 3: Re-planting peonies

Dig the new hole large enough for the new peony’s root system. Replant the peony at the same depth as it was growing in to begin with. This should put the buds about one to two inches below the soil surface. Try to avoid transplanting too deeply, as more than two inches could inhibit blooming.

Mix compost with the soil that you removed from the hole. Use this mix to fill in the hole and tamp it down firmly around the plant.

a peony clump — I mixed fresh compost in with the soil before filling in the hole around the peony clump that I dug up and moved.

After care: How to tend your peony transplants

The transplanting process is only a success after the transplant takes root. Give your peony transplants the best chance at thriving with a little help:

Water these transplants well a couple of times each week. Find the balance of the right amount of water, as you don’t want them sitting in soggy soil, but you do want them to stay hydrated.
Before the winter months, mulch over your peony transplants. This gives them extra insulation from the cold and protects them from the freeze-thaw cycle that could damage roots. Pull back the mulch in early spring, once temperatures have leveled out. You don’t want mulch touching the peony plant itself, as this can encourage fungal issues.
In the first year, it’s especially important to stay on top of deadheading. By removing the spent flower stalk, you’re telling the plant to put its energy back into its roots rather than into making seeds. Give the roots this extra energy to come back even stronger the next year.

Whether you have one of those 80-year-old heirloom peonies in your care or you’re experimenting with new varieties in your garden, understanding how and when to transplant peonies is good knowledge to have. Dividing as you transplant can be intimidating at first, but after you’ve divided a few and watched them become re-established and thrive, your confidence will build.

covered peony clump — I tried to plant my peony at the same depth as where it came from. You can see traces of the stems I removed.

As your garden plans for next year take shape and you look at relocating and dividing your peonies, remember what you read here: transplant when peonies are dormant in the fall, divide plants so each has three to five buds, plant them in full sun, and tend to your transplants with care.