How to Plant Peonies in Fall
A Simple Guide with My Little Garden Helper
Fall gardening comes with a little delayed gratification. You put something in the ground, give it some care, and wait to see what a new season brings. If you’ve been wondering how to plant peonies in fall, here’s a little inspiration and a simple guide to get you started.
This week, my daughter, Elle, helped me plant a bare-root Sarah Bernhardt peony from DutchGrown, a variety known for its full, ruffled pink blooms. With her pink gardening gloves, little shovel, and watering can, she was ready to get to work. It’s hard to picture those flowers when you’re holding a bare root but imagining what’s to come is part of the fun!
Fall gives peonies time to develop roots before the next growing season. Getting started is simple—with a little extra attention to planting depth.
How to Plant Peonies in Five Simple Steps:
1. Choose Your Spot - Find a sunny location with good drainage and room for the plant to grow. Avoid heavy competition from nearby tree and shrub roots.
2. Prepare the Hole - Pull back mulch and dig a hole large enough to spread the roots comfortably. Add soil back as needed to support the root at the correct height.
3. Find the Eyes - Look for the small pink or reddish buds near the top of the root. These are the “eyes,” where new shoots will grow. Position them facing upward, with the roots extending down.
4. Check the Depth - Use the chart above to position the eyes just below the finished soil surface. Gently backfill and firm the soil around the roots.
Planting too deeply can prevent flowering, so this is the step worth measuring. Keep thick mulch away from the crown, too.
5. Water Thoroughly - Water the root area well, then check that the soil hasn’t settled and left the eyes too deep. Monitor moisture during dry weather as the plant establishes, keeping the soil slightly moist without becoming soggy.
Elle helped dig the hole and water with her little pink watering can—two small jobs she could make her own!
A special shout-out to DutchGrown, the family business behind our Sarah Bernhardt peony. With roots in Voorhout, Netherlands, their family has been growing and exporting flower bulbs since 1882—a tradition spanning more than 140 years and four generations. I love that a memory of planting with Elle connects to a family gardening tradition that goes back so far.
Now We Wait
Peonies take a little patience, but there’s something lovely about planting now with another season in mind. If you’ve been thinking about adding one to your garden, I hope this gives you the confidence to give it a try. Find a sunny spot, mind the planting depth, and give it time to settle in. Elle and I will be watching for those first shoots right alongside you!
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