My mother-in-law wants to transplant some peonys. When is the best time to do that? I would imagine after they bloom? Thanks for any help. moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
I waited until the plant died back before transplanting mine CK. However, I don't see why you couldn't do it after the blooms have gone.
Hope you don't mind me jumping in on this topic. Unfortunately I don't know about the right time to transplant but we inherited a peony when we moved here 18 years ago. It has never bloomed and I have tried it in all positions in the garden, usually transplanting at the end of the summer. One year we did have some tiny buds developing but they soon fell off. I now have it in a large pot and it throws up some healthy leaves but sadly still no buds. I seem to remember that they do not like being planted too deep otherwise they will not flower so I have followed this advice.
All I read about this plant stresses that the depth of the red "eye" is critical. In your region that should be 1 1/2 to 2 inches below the surface. I have succeeded in transplanting peonies but sometimes it takes a couple of years to get it right. Also, since peonies are subject to botrytis blight, which causes buds to blacken and fall off and can lead to stem and leaf spotting, it is good to cut the stems back in the fall and treat shoots with an organic fungicide like sulfur in the spring. All this wisdom comes from my "bible" 'Perennials for every purpose' a Rodale book by Larry Hodgson. Hope this helps Phil from Canada