Re: living with peonies
- Subject: Re: living with peonies
- From: E*@aol.com
- Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 18:30:05 EDT
In a message dated 6/10/01 1:36:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
hlanktree@home.com writes:
<< The peonie pictures make me eager to try some new varieties, but I
have a hard time coping witht he 3 I already have. Can anyone clearly
explain how to stake the dang things >>
Hal,
Here is an old fashioned idea which is a bit of work but is effective. You
will need to cut willow shoots in the spring and also five or six stakes from
stronger wood. You put the stakes around the plants to the size you know
they will mature.
You wind the soft willow around the stakes fixing the willow at each stake
with some of the green twistem that comes by the yards and is very cheap.
They used a waxed green hemp at one time but the plastic is easier. Then lay
more soft willow over the form you have made at (at the height of the
blossom) weaving a grid and fastening with more twistems. If you do this
correctly the plants will look good all season. They will grow through the
grid and remain in straight up.
Do we do this? No, not anymore. I learned it from my grandfather. We do not
grow floppy peonies anymore and if one deigns to flop it is on it's own or we
cut it for the house. Check the catalogs, there are many on line, and buy
those shorter in stature or try the singles.
Claire Peplowski
NYS z4
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
