DIY perennial flower garden: diagram and instructions

The meaning of a peony flower in a bouquet: description

The peony looks great in a mono-bouquet, in harmony with any flowers, for example, with roses, lilacs, delphiniums. It is advisable to purchase these flowers only fresh when they have rudimentary buds. This way you can enjoy the peony blooming process.

Since the peony looks very much like a rose, it is often used to compose wedding bouquets. But not only because of this, many people love the peony. And also because it looks very romantic, it is considered a symbol of good luck, happiness and prosperity of any marriage.

Peonies in a bouquet

In the west, the peony is considered a symbol of a happy, successful and prosperous marriage. In addition, the peony, like the plum, is the national flower of China. This flower is translated from Chinese - "beautiful". If we take the culture of this country, then for the Chinese, the peony is a symbol of wealth, prosperity and honor.

In Greece today, the peony is a symbol of longevity. There is another legend. It says that this flower got its name from the Greek region of Lyonia, where it comes from.

A bouquet of peonies is the perfect wedding gift. In addition, other large flowers can be added to such a bouquet, where the peony will look more magnificent, richer and more elegant. In order for the future owner to like the composition even more, it can be supplemented with a greeting card by writing a description of the flower itself.

Continuous flowering

The greatest effect can be achieved if both annual and perennial plants are combined in the flower bed. This will allow you to get continuous flowering of the flower bed from May until frost.

Perennial flowers have undeniable benefits. They only need to be grown and planted once. And with proper simple care, these plants, growing every year, will delight you with their flowering for a long time. Perennial plants can be grown from seeds on their own, you can buy a root in a store, or you can ask a neighbor. The latter is preferable for a novice florist. The root has already been adapted to the climatic characteristics of the region. With a certain skill, you can dig out a plant with a large clod of earth, so that it will not notice the "move". This means that it will continue to grow and bloom on your site without loss. Now you have one more reason to visit your neighbors or visit your friend at the dacha.

When planning a bed of continuous flowering, be sure to plant bearded lupines and irises. And in June, your flower bed will be lit up with multi-colored lupine candles and unusual iris flowers among the emerald greens of spring. Collected in a clump of palms of lupine leaves and juicy feathers of the foliage of faded irises will look aesthetically pleasing on the flowerbed until late autumn. A picky, shade-tolerant Turkish carnation and bright red lychnis will catch the flowering round dance. Powerful long-blooming foxglove candles and the finest butterflies of Escholzia flowers will bloom almost at the same time. Using this, you can create an original duet based on the contrast of form and color combination.

A real flower parade begins in July! Many annuals are blooming: lavatera, kosmeya, salvia, Drummond phlox, cornflower, poppy, calendula, nasturtium, godetia, marigolds and others. Perennials are gaining strength - dahlias, lilies, gladioli ...

By the way, now in the store you can buy dahlia tubers, gladioli bulbs, lily bulbs. Having planted them in May at your site, you will enjoy the flowering of perennials this summer. But remember, dahlias and gladioli need to be dug up for the winter. Lilies can grow for several years without a transplant.

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What are peonies in a bouquet combined with?

The peony has a very large, colorful flower. Other flowers only emphasize the composition, its beauty and sophistication. The following flowers are perfectly combined with a peony:

• Decorative bow. The heads of this plant among the colorful peony hats look just wonderful.
• Red buds are in perfect harmony with white or coral peony, for example, carnation, heuchera.
• Delicate pink buds can accentuate dark, decorative leaves of greenery or sprigs of barberry.
• White peonies look good with irises. They contrast in tone.
• The next flower on the list to combine with a peony is sage. Also, a peony can compose a composition with poppy seeds, bells.
• Peonies look very beautiful against the background of tulips, zinnias and daffodils.
• In autumn, wonderful bouquets are obtained, made up of peonies, phlox, asters, chrysanthemums.

Combination in a bouquet
Currently, a composition made up of bright colors is considered fashionable. For example, a bouquet made of roses and peonies always looks rich and advantageous. Peony with hydrangea looks no less attractive. This combination has always been relevant in floristry.

The scheme of a flower bed with peonies in the country: mixborder

Well-planned flower beds make it easier to care for plants, especially tall, spreading ones. It turns out beautiful flower beds with peonies in the country from simple, semi-double, terry varieties of different flowering periods. Bright fragrant bushes in the garden, mixborder along the path, in a round flower bed next to the gazebo will delight for many years.

Fragrant buds bloom in May-June, and if you cut off withered petals and ovaries, they will last even longer.

A mixborder is usually created along the path as in the diagram of a flower bed with peonies (hybrid peonies are indicated by the number 3).

Combinations of spring, summer, autumn perennials and annuals allow you to maintain a beautiful view of the flower garden for a long time. Bright peonies in early summer look great next to the bushes of false jasmine or mock orange (1), variegated "stars" of a tiger lily (4). July – September is the phlox time (2). Green leaves of a flower bed with peonies set off a summer riot of colors. Turkish carnation, ageratums, lobularia bloom for a long time in the foreground of the mixborder (5, 6, 7).

There is a circumstance that is a little depressing for those who care for their beautiful flower beds with peonies in the country - the decorative look is lost due to the collapsed bushes. Dense green nets, as well as other artificial supports will help out. Medium-sized perennials planted next to annual flowers will help the peony flowerbed to stay in shape.

How to make a beautiful wedding bouquet from red peonies: ideas, photos, assembly tips

Now try to make a bouquet of red peonies. Select additional material as you wish so that it can be in harmony with the overall style of the composition. Make sure you don't get errors. After all, a wedding bouquet is a rather serious matter that requires seriousness, care and accuracy.

Red splendor

Bouquet of red peonies

• Prepare a bouquette case: open it, insert a foam sponge.
• Decorate the expanding place with leaves. Glue them in a circle with double-sided tape. Glue the ends of the sheets with anchor tape.Hide the tape under the green tape.
• Dampen the round piece of foam.
• Decorate the handle as you wish: ribbons, rhinestones, beads.
• Decorate the cuff of the composition with leaves by cutting them obliquely and sticking them in. Prune the leaves.
• Decorate the sponge. You can complete the classic version by complementing the red peonies with roses.

Combination with other plants

A competent layout of the site and the correct distribution of flower crops are the key to the success of landscaping, therefore it is very important to know what peonies are combined with, which are spreading by nature and do not get along with every plant. In landscape design, color combinations are divided into:

• partner neighborhood;
• background accompaniment.

In the first case, we are talking about a full-fledged combination of several types, when they have an equal impact on the overall picture. Garden geraniums are ideal partners for peonies. One of its subspecies, referred to as majestic, looks great in tandem with dark or bright-blooming peonies, and, for example, fragrant geraniums perfectly harmonize with lighter, white, pinkish varieties. White tansy looks no less intriguing, creating a touching, romantic atmosphere around its larger neighbors, and a fabulous millefleur that can really be enjoyed tirelessly.

Background accompaniment refers to plants that subtly emphasize the merits of their partners. The lily and the catnip are perfect for this role. You should also take into account the texture of the foliage, the vertical parameters of the crops and the location of the peonies. For example, if they grow on the edge of a certain zone, then their edging in the form of pretty violets or asters looks pretty pretty. If the author's intention is to create a play of contrasts, then the answer to the question of what to plant next to the peonies is quite obvious - miscanthus or foxglove.

Delicate wedding bouquet of peonies and roses, pink: ideas, photos, assembly tips

The wedding dream will surely come true if you give the bride a beautiful bouquet made of pink peonies and roses. Such a composition you will get a gentle, romantic, at the same time refined and feminine. To perform the composition, take:

• Sprigs of peonies and roses
• Lace
• Various decorations (beads, bows)
• A piece of tulle

Delicate bouquet

Bouquet of peonies
Manufacturing process:

• Lay the roses in the central part of the composition, securing them with tape.
• Attach bows to the pink wire, making them from ribbon and beads. Attach decorations to the composition.
• Next, take the peonies. Attach them to the center piece using tape or wire.
• Make an airy "skirt" out of tulle.
• Wrap the stems of flowers with tulle, secure the materials with thin threads.
• Add ribbons to the bouquet.

You can add other flowers to this composition, but only in pink. For example, daisies, chrysanthemums, chamomile and other flowers with small inflorescences. Be sure to complement the bouquet with sprigs of greenery, for example, a palm tree, fern, gypsophila.

Annuals and more

You need to know that ornamental plants have different life forms. There are annual flowers that have to be sown every year. Biennials that bloom in the second year. And perennial - which must be sown once, and from year to year they become more magnificent.

If you grow flowers from seeds, then this year only annual flowers will be able to bloom on your site. Some annual flowers bloom 13-15 weeks after sowing. These are tall marigolds, late asters, salvia, verbena, lobelia, petunia and some others. You can see and enjoy the flowering of these plants only if you grow them through seedlings. Other annuals can be sown directly into open ground.

Let's talk about them in detail.

Perfect lavater, spectacular zinnia, cheerful dahlias, fragrant matthiola, picky marigolds, airy eschscholzia, long-flowering Drummond phlox, captivating with its simple cornflower, lush cosmea, the well-known calendula, graceful godetia, a giant, ...

If you sow these flowers in early - mid-May, they will calmly grow on your site and bloom by July-August. Annuals are gaining decorativeness only from the middle of summer.

Growing plants in seedlings significantly speeds up the flowering time. And planting flower seedlings in a flower bed is certainly more pleasant than sowing seeds and waiting for shoots. Try growing seedlings of asters, zinnias, dahlias this year. It is not difficult at all, it should be done in mid-April, not earlier. At this time, there is already enough sunny color and the seedlings do not need to be illuminated with special lamps.

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What bouquet to make of 5 peonies for a birthday, as a gift: ideas, photos, assembly tips

To begin with, we offer you small secrets that will help you make beautiful compositions of their fresh flowers.

• The peony is considered a flower that is used for arrangements. You can also make bouquets, free compositions from peonies.
• Peony bouquets, as a rule, are made in a round or oval shape, a one-sided arrangement is less popular.
• Peony bouquets come in one tone or several colors. The main condition here is a combination, you should get it perfect, harmonious and effective.
• If you decide to make the composition in a low, flat flowerpot, use pads made from moss. Dry the material in advance, form a mound out of it, secure with a wire or fishing line. Plant the peonies in the moss by making holes in it. This material absorbs moisture well, retains the right amount of water for a long period of time. Would you like to work with moss? Then replace it with a sponge, foam rubber.
• Place the peony stalks so that there is space between them.

5 peonies

Bouquet of peonies
One-sided bouquets of peonies are rarely made, but you still try to make such a composition:

• Make a base from palm leaves.
• On the resulting background, starting from the top, lay out the stems in the form of a fan (3 pcs.).
• At the bottom, lay out the second row using 2 sprigs of peony.
• Don't forget to put fern or gypsophila in between the rows.
• Fasten the finished bouquet with a ribbon.
• Cut off the ends of the stems with scissors.

Complete the composition with a beautiful postcard.

Application in landscape design

Peonies, thanks to their inherent fabulous variety of shades, stand out brightly from other flower cultures, attracting curious glances to themselves. They look especially impressive when the bushes are planted tightly enough, and the blossoming flowers merge into a single amazing picture. In landscape design, where the presentability of the entire plant group is important, the fashion for herbaceous peonies has never passed. Retro trends are still considered relevant, when plants are planted close to filigree arches hanging over a narrow path or right next to a swing chair that adorns a spacious courtyard.

By their nature, peonies do not tolerate aesthetic fuss, they do not need ornate borders, complex tile edging or any other design wisdom. They need space, and their best friend is the emerald carpet of a neatly trimmed lawn. Experienced gardeners assign them the so-called ceremonial plots of the yard or garden, and plant them in a conspicuous place.

If the distance between groups of bushes is more an individual matter of the designer, then the distance between peonies and other crops should be observed in any case, so that, for example, summer flowers do not look like an illogical or accidental dilution, but like a full-fledged companion in a flower bed. The tree-like peony in landscape design, like its herbaceous relative, also enjoys considerable respect, especially the so-called park varieties. Their dignity is strong, resistant to wind and rain, non-sticking stems, delighting in their grandeur, and bright, rich flowering.

What bouquet to make of 15 peonies for a birthday, as a gift: ideas, photos, assembly tips

When composing a bouquet of peonies, be sure to consider important rules:

• Make a bouquet, taking into account who exactly it will be presented to - a woman or a man.
• Try to match the buds, observing the color scheme.
• Select additional plants so that they are the same size.
• Never use a large number of decorative elements.

In the next bouquet, choose peonies of different shades: the brighter, the better, since you have to give it for your birthday. You can complement peonies with yellow roses, tulips, buttercups or other flowers. Also for work you will need to take:

• Green tape
• Burlap
• Lace ribbon
• Scissors
• Glue

15 peonies 15 peonies 15 peonies
Manufacturing process:

• Collect the center piece of the 3 peonies. Decorate the flower stems using a decorative ribbon.
• Add the remaining stems to the composition. Arrange dark buds near very light flowers. After you have successfully assembled the composition, again wrap the stems with decorative ribbon.
• Cut the stems of the peonies so that they are the same length.
• Now decorate the bouquet with any decorative elements. We suggest you use burlap and lace. Wrap the stems with them, secure with glue. Do not use pins during operation, as they may come undone. It is also not advisable to use scotch tape. It may cause glare in photographs (if guests decide to take multiple shots). In addition, scotch tape can ruin the entire appearance of the composition.

Planning a flower bed

When planning a flower bed, pay attention to some of the subtleties:

• All plants follow the sun with their heads. And if the view of the flowerbed opens from the north side, then most of the day the flowers will be turned away from you. In such a flower bed, you can plant flowers in which the following to the sun is not so pronounced. These are zinnias, marigolds; of perennials - lupine, irises, liatris, delphinium, Buzulnik Rocket.
• If the flower bed is located near the fence through which passers-by can see your flowers, decide in advance: you will make a flower bed for yourself or so that passers-by will have a spectacular view of your flower garden.
• Leave sufficient distance between flower groups when sowing. And let the flowerbed look somewhat loose by the end of June. But in July, you will not have to free less aggressive plants from spreading counterparts.
• When planning a flower bed, always refer to the plant height indicated on the seed packaging, and also observe the indicated distance between plants of the same species. If the sown seedlings have sprouted too often, they can be carefully dug up and transferred to another place. Remember that some plants do not tolerate transplanting very well. For example, from annuals - escholzia and poppy, from perennials - gypsophila, oriental poppy and, as a rule, all plants with a taproot system.
• If you are planning to collect seeds from flowers from a mixture of colors of a certain color - mark the selected plant in advance, as soon as it begins to bloom, do not postpone it for another day! The next weekend, this plant may already bloom and get lost among the multi-colored comrades.
• Remember that for long-term flowering of both summer and perennial flowers, it is necessary to periodically remove faded flowers, as well as ovaries and fruits. This will help maintain the decorativeness of the flower garden and the re-flowering of some plants. Perennial flowers such as lupine, Turkish carnation, bells, delphinium are recommended to be cut when almost all flowers have faded. After such pruning, perennials can please you with repeated flowering.
• Do not sow a plant of the same type over a large area. When the time comes and this plant finishes flowering, the site will take on an unsightly appearance or completely bare, which cannot but upset.
• It is curious that there are flowers that close in cloudy weather (escholzia). Bindweed tricolor rolls up its gramophone in the afternoon. Conversely, mattiola, inconspicuous during the day, opens up and smells sweet in the evening and at night.

In the summer, write down your plans for the next season. Do not rely on memory, but write down which plants you liked from your neighbor and you also want to grow them; what they wanted to take from a friend; what they promised to share with neighbors; what plants need to be divided and planted in the spring ...

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How to make a beautiful, huge, chic bouquet of peonies: ideas, photos, assembly tips

Earlier, during the compilation of bouquet compositions, one technique was used: the stems were folded to each other, a lush dome in the form of a ball was formed. Such a bouquet was placed in paper or film. Currently, fabrics of various shades are also used to make flower compositions, for example, organza or matting.

Today, the trend is also very popular when flower arrangements are made in boxes. Peonies are perfect for such bouquets. For making, you can take a cylindrical box that resembles a hat, or that resembles a heart. If you want to make the composition yourself, use a base, and use designer paper for decoration.

Do not be afraid that such a bouquet will not last long. At the bottom of the box, place a special porous material soaked in water. If such a bouquet is properly cared for, it will be able to live no less than a composition that is placed in an ordinary vase.

The next composition that you make can please any birthday person. Stock up for her:

• Pink hydrangeas - 4 pcs.
• Viburnum twigs - 3 pcs.
• Pale pink peonies - 5 pcs.
• Pink ranunculus - 10 pcs.

Also for work you will need a round vase, willow twigs, a knife.

You can make a gorgeous bouquet with peonies

Bouquet of peonies

Cooking process:

• Pour water into the vase (1/2 part). Twist any shapes from willow twigs.
• Put the twigs in a vase, distribute them beautifully over the dishes.
• Add water (3/4 part).
• Assemble the bouquet: start with large flowers, end with small ones.
• Cut the hydrangeas so that the top of the flower covers the edge of the vase.
• Cut the viburnum too. Place it between the hydrangeas.
• Next, cut the stems of the peonies. Place randomly in a vase.
• Cut off the remaining flowers, arrange them around the perimeter of the vase.

The composition is ready.

In order for the bouquet to look fresh for a very long time, follow these recommendations:

• Place the vase in the sink.
• Move the flowers apart, add water.
• Wait until the old water runs out and the vase fills with new.

Classification of lilies by flower shape and geographic origin

To maintain the beauty of flowering all summer, you need to diversify the flower bed with peonies with other flowers. The ideal option is lilies. This powerful and effective flower blooms in July, replacing June beauty.

Lily is a bulbous herbaceous perennial (lily family). The genus contains about 100 species and 4 thousand. varieties. Feels comfortable at moderate temperatures with uniform moisture supply. Grows in the wild and is divided into groups based on geographic origin:

• East Asian
• European
• North American
• Caucasian

East asian lily

European lily

Caucasian lily

North American lily

Cultivars and hybrids originated in wild species, borrowing the simplicity of their germination. In household plots, different types and varieties of lilies have their own requirements for lighting and soil., but everything, like peonies, grows well in light, humus-containing soil.

Sandy and clayey soils are unsuitable for growing lilies.

To improve the sandy soil under the bed, you need to make a bed of clay, clay - add sand to the ground. Lilies planted in the right place do not require complex maintenance. It boils down to:

• Top dressing (before and after flowering)
• Watering
• Disease prevention

Since the time of Peter 1, the popularity of beautiful, fragrant inflorescences of various shapes and colors has not passed in our country. They range from milky white, greenish, yellow, pink, red to purple, sometimes with beautiful mottling shades. Not only in blue. In height, they grow 30 - 400 cm. Cut off stand up to two weeks, continuing to dissolve the buds. They use the healing properties of some lilies for different types of tinctures. Distinguish by the shape of the flower:

• Cup-shaped.
• Bell-shaped.
• Chalmoid.
• Tubular.
• Cup-shaped.

Cup lily

Bell lily

Cup lily

Tubular lily

Turban lily

Umbrella-shaped or brush-shaped inflorescences can consist of 1–20 flowers.

How to make a beautiful bouquet of Marsala peonies: ideas, tips, photos

For a long celebration, it is advisable to use a bouquet made from a bouquette box. A sufficient amount of water is collected in it, as a result of which the composition remains very fresh for a long time. This device is lightweight and looks quite aesthetically pleasing. Portbouquet holders are often used for making wedding compositions.

Marsala peonies Marsala peonies Marsala peonies

Manufacturing process:

• Place the floral sponge in the water, then place it in the flower box.
• Place aspidistra twigs into the composition, fixing them with tape. Wrap the base leg with a ribbon, fix its tip under the ribbon.
• Cut the peony stems so that their length is about 10 cm, insert them into the bouquets. Start sticking in from the edge, ending in the center of the bouquet. Fix small flowers (of your choice) at the end of the work.
• Decorate the bouquet with herbs. But do not overdo it, so as not to weigh down the bouquet.
• It is advisable to keep the finished composition cool before delivery.

Planting and leaving

For many people, peonies are extremely important in garden design, so great attention is paid to their planting and subsequent care. These flowers are planted either in spring or autumn. The main thing is to finish everything before the period of their intensive growth. The soil should be loamy, filled with a sufficient amount of fertilizer. It is important to exclude the possibility of excessive moisture entering the ground. If the presence of groundwater, storm water or melt water is likely, it is better to take care of drainage. The ideal depth of the fossa is 50 cm down and the same width.

Peonies are not particularly whimsical and require minimal personal care, but you need to make sure that their rhizome is completely buried in the ground, and after flowering (if the plant refuses to bloom, read our article), cut the plants so that only the lower part of the peduncle and a few leaves remain ... Full pruning (at the root) should take place only in the fall and, if a cold winter is coming, it is advisable to wrap the remaining parts of the peony well.

It is important to monitor the health of plants, to prevent the spread of infections or quite often overtaking fungal diseases that occur due to the weakness of the plant or the lack of minerals in the soil. If we are talking about young, recently planted peonies, then the land in which they grow should be watered and loosened abundantly. Senior bushes will not be hurt by top dressing, as well as preventive spraying with special solutions that protect against pests. Also read our article "How to Grow a Peony in a Pot".

What to plant next to clematis

The classic combination in landscape design is clematis with climbing roses (both large and small-flowered). They can be matched, or you can play on the contrast of colors.

Also, in vertical gardening, clematis will be perfectly combined with various types of decorative and fruit vines: wild grapes, hops, ivy, morning glory, cobea, actinidia, honeysuckle, climbing nasturtium. Remember only that woody vines are best combined with clematis of the first pruning group, and annuals - with clematis of the third group.

Also popular is the planting of ornamental crops for clematis "at the feet" - so the bare lower part of the plant is covered, and the open ground will not overheat. Of course, the soil can be mulched or covered with stones, but why not plant the same moisture-loving peonies, phloxes, marigolds, petunias, daylilies, lavender at the foot of clematis ... Most gardeners, however, believe that annuals are better suited for this purpose - so not there will be a risk that in winter perennials will shake out under the shelter of clematis.

Another use of the versatile trios for flower beds

Combinations of plants, with the help of which you can create the simplest of flower beds, are a universal combination of plants that "works" not only in individual compositions. If you suddenly have a need to quickly "patch holes" in large flower beds or flower beds, a bald patch suddenly appears between your favorite plants, then you can easily close it using one of three plants in combination. It is enough to inspect the neighbors - and the concealer will be found himself. So, between phlox and delphiniums, a bush of one of the hybrid varieties of helenium will easily close the void, and geraniums can be planted between poppies and irises.

What to plant next to irises

Iris is a shade-tolerant culture, decorative, high enough, begins to bloom closer to summer. Based primarily on these prerequisites and neighbors, we will choose it, especially since the iris neighbor is very livable.

Since irises will look great with annuals and perennials, and even with ornamental shrubs, the whole question when creating compositions with irises will only concern your aesthetic preferences - do you like monochrome and minimalism, or prefer cheerful and rich color compositions.

So, according to the contrast of color and size, irises can be planted in pairs with lilies, badan or poppies. In a monochrome flower bed, you can add decorative cereals to them. A flowerbed of irises of one or more varieties of various colors will look great. It goes well with irises lavender, phlox, delphinium, clematis, daffodils, tulips, sedum, heather, lupine, rogersia, nasturtium, petunia ...

Tall varieties of irises usually appear vertically and in the background in a mixborder, while miniature ones can be placed both in curbs and on rocky slides.

Perhaps, only the neighborhood of irises with roses will be unsuccessful - at least, they "overlap" each other visually and will not fully enjoy the view of any of the cultures.

Perfect Neighborhood

The ideal partner for a peony is garden geraniums of all kinds, including the modest but stunningly beautiful Compositae Geranium majestic. This subspecies of geranium is best planted next to dark or brightly colored peony varieties, while for all white, milky and light pink peony flowers it is better to choose another partner - scented geranium.

These two plants, each boasting beautiful flowering, complement each other in mixed plantings, compensating for deficiencies and providing an almost gem-quality variety of shapes. In order for geraniums to be equal to peony in terms of the splendor of flowering and an abundance of inflorescences, immediately after the flowers begin to wither, they should be cut off at the base of the branch.

The gaps between the peony bushes just want to be filled with openwork lines, unobtrusively creating a magnificent, emphasizing background. In such a role, the ideal partner for peonies is white tansy, creating a soft, discreet, romantic and at the same time pleasing to the eye millefleur.The smallest white tansy flowers contrast so well with the massive peony flowers that they seem to be a scattering of precious pearls.

Agrotechnics

The agricultural technique of the herbaceous "Japanese" is the same as for all herbaceous peonies. This horticultural crop loves well-fertilized, moist soils. Therefore, manure, compost and fertile soil are immediately laid in large planting pits (60 x 60 cm in size). In the future, when there is a shortage of food, the bushes always give signals: the flowers become smaller, some buds do not bloom. Therefore, every season after flowering (during the laying of flower buds), a complex fertilizer for autumn is applied in liquid form at the rate of 50-70 g per bush. And, of course, you need to remember about watering, weeding, as well as pruning the stems and timely hilling before winter. All this will lead to an abundant and long-lasting flowering of peonies for many years.

As the fashion for clothes constantly changes, so it changes for peonies and their varieties. The elusive charm of Japanese peonies and the sophisticated aesthetics of the East attract the attention of not only flower growers, but also breeders, who continue to develop new varieties, every year.

How to plant and care for plants?

Plant these plants where it is warm and light for most of the growing season.

The soil should be rich in organic matter and minerals.

These perennials need to be planted from mid-August to the end of September. Before the first frost, the seedlings must have time to restore the root system and gain enough nutrients for wintering. This means that after planting, young shoots should grow, providing the roots with the necessary supply.

The first year a young bush needs to be looked after especially carefully. In the period of insufficient moisture, watering with warm water should be carried out. At least twice a season, you need to feed.

After your bush begins to bloom actively, grooming activities should be expanded by plucking the buds. The fact is that the bush consumes a lot of energy for flowering. If all the buds are removed in the first year, then the bush will direct all its forces to vegetative propagation and the formation of new shoots. As a result, in the second year you will already receive not single weak flowers, but a whole hat of large and beautiful flowers.

Since peonies are planted for a long time, you need to carefully prepare the planting site. First, prepare the garden bed or flower bed itself. It is best to carry out the following activities.

1. 1 Determine the size of the area, which should be completely filled with peony bushes.
2. Dig a hole 20-30 cm deep in place of this area. Put the soil next to it.
3. 3 Place a layer of manure or humus ten centimeters thick on the bottom of the pit.
4. 4Place grass, hay, sawdust or peat on this layer. Cover all this with the soil that was removed during the digging of the hole.

All these procedures are preparatory, so they need to be carried out in advance - in the spring, and preferably in the fall. During this time, manure and grass will begin to rot, and the soil will be enriched with nitrates, which are so necessary for a young sprout to ensure growth in the early period.

Such formation of the base for the flowerbed will allow you to forget about the problems with organic fertilizers for 5 years. It will only be necessary to sometimes feed with special mineral fertilizers to stimulate abundant flowering.

Since peonies love loose soil rich in organic matter, they need to be covered with dry grass on top for the winter. It will not only protect the wintering parts from sudden changes in temperature, but also ensure the flow of organic matter into the soil without digging the soil. However, weed seeds can be introduced with dry grass, so try to use only leaves or seedlings for this purpose.

Herbaceous peonies

The shape and splendor of the peony bushes suggest that they need space.

This flower should not be planted in the foreground of a flower bed with a dense wall, and it also does not need to be lined with small flowers, trimmed borders, tiled edging and other garden "chips".

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Perimeter landing

The first option for planting peonies is along the perimeter of the lawn, of course, stepping back from the edge so that the stems of the plant do not fall on the path when it rains. The distance between the flowers depends on the size of the entire arrangement. For example, with a tape width of 60 cm, there should be a distance of about 2 meters between flowers. In this case, smaller flowers can be put between the peonies: begonia, pelargonium. If summer small flowers are planted in front of peonies, then the bushes should be brought closer together. For this type of flower bed, you need to use one variety of peonies, the mixture will look worse.

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Anchoring corners

When planting peonies, gardeners often use the technique of "fixing the corners". In this case, the flowers are planted singly or in groups of 3 at the corners of the flower bed. With this arrangement along the edge, you can plant a tape of low biennials. With an angular seating, the same contrasting groups will look spectacular, for example, 2 red varieties and one white, or vice versa.

Peonies are not recommended to be removed deep into the flower garden, since these wonderful flowers are perceived better from a close distance. People always want to take a closer look at the fragrant bush, inhale the smell, appreciate the shades of the petals. Do not deprive them of this opportunity. It is not recommended to plant large flower beds only with peonies. In this case, bright flowers lose their individuality, they are cramped in such a mass.

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Selection rules

The only rule for choosing partners for a peony is that the plant should have similar requirements for growth conditions in combination with significantly smaller flowers than that of a peony. But the color scheme of a candidate for partners can vary from lighter shades in relation to the color of peony flowers to the darkest variations of purple and burgundy.

A significant drawback of peonies is their "attachment" to the beginning of the garden season: arranging a real flower riot in spring, these plants by the middle of summer lose all their attractiveness. Neighboring plants should compensate for this deficiency, maintaining the decorative effect of the flower garden until the autumn cold.

Since the peony has clear contours, its partner should create a more chaotic and lush green mass that fills the space of the flower garden. At the same time, neighboring plants should not have foliage similar to the green of a peony: the texture of the greenery of the partner plant must necessarily be contrasting both in shape and color.

Peonies will not tolerate the proximity of highly growing plants that interfere with their own growth. The abundance of large flowers of a delightful romantic needs vertical balancing with the help of other plants in flower beds, including border accompaniment, edging the edges of your flower bed with shorter species, giving the composition a neatness.

Winter-hardy varieties of white tree peonies (with photo)

'August'... The flower is goblet, retains its shape until the end of flowering. Petals (13-15 in number) are pure white, with a light pink, almost imperceptible spot at the base. Filaments are white; six pistils, stigmas light yellow, staminodial disc light pink, reaching 1/3 of pistil height. The height of the bush of this winter-hardy variety of tree-like peonies is 120-130 cm. The leaves are large, bright green.

‘Anastasia Sosnovets’... The flower is non-double, the petals are two-row, slightly corrugated along the edge, white, with a bright magenta spot at the base. Filaments are white, closer to the anthers with a raspberry tinge. Five pistils, stigmas light yellow; the staminodial disc is light. Bush up to 1.5 m tall, compact. The leaves are medium-sized, with a dark green tint.

'Spring Waltz'... The petals are pure white, with an almost black spot at the base, the filaments are white, the staminodial disc is red-purple. The height of the bush is up to 120 cm.

‘Vorobievsky’... The flower is non-double, goblet, retains its shape until the end of flowering.

As you can see in the photo, this winter-hardy variety of tree-like peonies has almost pure white petals, only at the base there are thin magenta lines:

The staminoid disc is white. Filaments are light lilac below, white above; five pistils, stigmas light yellow. The bush is up to 1.5 m high. The leaves are green.

'Maria'... The flower is semi-double, the petals are two-row, pure white, slightly wavy along the edge. Filaments are light. There are five pistils, the stigmas are light, the staminodial disc is white, slightly colored at the apex. The bush is 120-130 cm high, spreading. Leaves are light green with an anthocyanin border.

'Tatyana'... The flower is semi-double, retains its shape until the end of flowering. Petals 2-3-row, white, with a small crimson spot at the base. The staminodial disc is white, the filaments are crimson; 5-6 pistils; stigmas light yellow. The bush is 100-120 cm tall, spreading, multi-stemmed. The leaves are small, delicate, green, with anthocyanin coloration.

Here you can see photos of tree-like peonies, the description of which is presented on this page:

The best varieties of red tree peonies for the Moscow region

‘Vesuvian’ - ‘Vesuvius’. The flowers are large, double. The petals are crimson-red, numerous. Flowers with pale yellow anthers and short red filaments. Pistils are pale green with purple stigmas. Bush up to 75 cm tall.

‘Vladimir Novikov’... The petals are red-beetroot-fuchsin, with an almost dark purple spot at the base, the edges of the petals are notched, corrugated. The staminodial disc is light with crimson veins, the filaments are crimson with bright yellow anthers. There are 5 or more pistils; stigmas are pale pink. The bush is 130-150 cm high, spreading. This tree-like peony, suitable for the Moscow region, has dark green leaves.

‘Gauguin’ - ‘Gauguin’... The flowers are large, crimson-red. Petals with dark crimson veins, along the edge with a magenta shade. The staminoid disc is dark pink. The stamens are large, with dark red filaments. The height of the bush is up to 1.2 m.

'Coral'... Hybrid variety. The flowers are non-double, the petals are red-purple, with a dark red spot at the base. Filaments are purple; staminodial disc and stigma are pink. This is one of the best varieties of tree peonies over 100 cm in height.

'Peter the Great'... The flower is semi-double, 20 -25 cm in diameter, wide open. The petals are lilac-beetroot-colored with purple veins. Pistils from 9 to 13, stigmas are bright crimson. The staminodial disc is weak. The filaments are pale lilac in color. Bush 130-150 cm high, spreading, multi-stemmed.

'Stephen'... The flowers are non-double, 18-20 cm in diameter. The petals are crimson with lilac veins and with a dark purple spot at the base. The staminoid disc is almost invisible. There are five to six carpels, pistils (5-6) with crimson stigmas, filaments crimson at the base. Bush 90-100 cm high, sparse, sprawling.

‘Vadim Tikhomirov’... The flower is non-double, 11 to 15 cm in diameter. The petals are pink, with a small dark crimson spot, with corrugated edges. The staminoid disc is crimson. Filaments are crimson with bright yellow anthers. Pistils with raspberry stigmas. Shrub 1.5 m high, multi-stemmed. The leaves are dark green.

‘Hoffman’... The petals are pale pink, with a pale pink spot. The staminodial disc is white at the base, pale crimson above. Pistils with light pink stigmas, light filaments. Shrub up to 1.5 m high, multi-stemmed. The leaves are bright green.

'Irina'... The flower is semi-double, the lower petals are large, in the center - smaller, form an inner circle with a diameter of 17 cm. The petals are dark salmon with a dark magenta spot at the base.The staminoid disc is violet-red; stigmas of pistils and filaments are bright crimson. Shrub up to 170 cm high, multi-stemmed.

'Muse'... The petals are crimson-pink, forming four circles; outer - large, concave, inner - spherical, smaller. This one of the best varieties of tree peonies for the Moscow region has practically no spots on the petals. The staminoid disc is crimson, there are five pistils, the stigmas are pink, the filaments are crimson with bright yellow anthers. The bush is 120-130 cm high. The leaves are bright green.

‘Smolin’... The flower is semi-double, multi-row, 22-25 cm in diameter. The petals are pale pink, with a bright purple spot at the base. The staminoid disc is light. The stigma of the pistils is pink-yellow, the filaments are crimson at the base. The bush is 120-130 cm high, spreading, some shoots lie down. The leaves are green with a brown tint.

'Marianne'... The petals are arranged in three rows, pale salmon, with a dark crimson spot, the edges of the petals are corrugated. The filaments are crimson, the stigmas of the pistils are pale pink. Beet-colored staminoid disc. The bush is compact, 120-140 cm high. The leaves are bright green.

Below are photos and descriptions of varieties of white peonies.

The main principles for the selection of perennials to create successful trios:

Beautiful deep contrasts

For a modest flower garden to be effective, you need to boldly play with contrasts. But not by color, which are always the first to catch the eye and are obvious, but by the deep contrasts underlying the principles of decorating flower beds - in shape, height and type of growth and greenery. When choosing members of a group of herbaceous perennials, it should be remembered that even three plants will seem like a luxurious thoughtful flower garden if you choose crops of different heights and structures. A low textural plant in the foreground, a medium to lush, voluminous "soloist" and a more artsy tall perennial for accent in the background or in the middle - the classic prototype of the trio for a flower garden. There is no need to arrange plants in a linear fashion from low to high. The main thing is that any trio should consist of three plants of different heights, clearly differing in all parameters - both in the density of foliage, and in the size and structure of the leaves, and in the lines of the shoots, and in the shape of the inflorescences. You should never forget about the last parameter: cultures with vertical inflorescences, massive "caps" and umbrellas, single flowers, baskets or loose panicles are combined with each other, but not with similar plants.

Play of color in all its splendor.

If in the design of flower beds and decide on the most unimaginable and daring experiments, then it is in such ensembles that are minimal in terms of the number of types. In choosing the color scheme for the trio, you need to be not just bold, but go to extremes. In this case, it is not at all about a combination of incongruous, but about bringing the game of color to the absolute. The choice of variations here exactly repeats the limitless design possibilities of absolutely any flower garden - from the harmonious play of pastel colors to different shades of the same color, contrasting colors or original solutions. Plants in color should contrast with each other, be dissimilar, but this does not at all contradict the possibility of adhering to monochrome (one-color) design. Indeed, among the shades of pink, red, blue, purple, yellow, orange and other colors, you can easily find three different tones. So, the red trio can be represented as orange, scarlet and purple, pink - dark pink "fuchsia", light fawn and medium candy pink, blue - dark purple, light purple and sky blue, and orange - a combination of fire, brick and bright yellow, etc. At the same time, one should not forget about the style of the garden, its color concept and personal preferences.

Never forget about deadlines.

Because plants are limited in numbers in such low-flowered ensembles, the effect of constant blooming - and constant appeal - is not easy to recreate in them. Cultures should be selected so that they do not have the same flowering time, but only touch, a flowering wave passed through the composition from a spring star to a classic summer perennial and later flowering. But there should be no pauses between flowering: the plants should pick up each other, at least for a short time, "dock". The longer perennials bloom, the better (at least one plant should bloom for more than 4-5 weeks, otherwise a full-fledged flower garden will not work). The flowering time of the composition can be "shifted" to the first or second half of the season. Other terms should also be taken into account: rejuvenation and division. It is better if all the plants in the composition are similar in these indicators.

Flower garden of daylilies, lilies and host. <>

GOOD AND BAD NEIGHBORS

Even in the most successful neighborhood, dense planting of flowers should be avoided, since they require space to form and grow. Experts do not recommend planting next to:

• roses with mignonette and carnations;
• lilies of the valley with peonies and violets;
• lilies with tulips;
• violets with sweet peas.

Plants of the buttercup family are especially aggressive, which thoroughly deplete the soil, sucking out not only moisture, but also useful substances from it. Therefore, such a neighborhood may not have the best effect on other plants and even cause their death.

Some flowers, on the other hand, protect other plantings from pests and diseases, and also contribute to their active growth. As neighbors in one flower garden, you can choose:

• for peonies - nasturtium, as they provide protection against fungal diseases and nematodes;
• for roses and gladioli - marigolds, which repel pests and thereby create favorable conditions for growth;
• for petunias - asters, since in the same flower garden they do not get sick with fusarium;
• for phlox - marigolds that protect against nematodes;
• for asters - nasturtium, which prevents the occurrence of fusarium.

In addition, the rose can be planted surrounded by lilies, clematis and lavender, which will protect it from diseases and aphids.

Species and varietal diversity

In total, there are about 5 thousand varieties of peony. Three categories can be conventionally distinguished. They are based on the origin, as a result of selection manipulations, from the forms of the plant:

1. Medicinal peony:

• rubra captivity,
• rosea captivity,
• lobata.

2. Milk-flowered peony:

• simple, not terry (Chinese peony, a la mod, nancy, aritina nozen glory),
• semi-double (Miss America, Cyteria),
• terry (rasprerri sande, monsieur Jules Ely, Henry Boxtos, ballerina, gaudi, illini bell),
• Japanese (Karara, pearl placer, Velta Atkinson, Hot Chocolite, Barington Bal),
• anemic (snow mountain, root glue, lastres, sable).

3. Interspecific hybrids

The "king of the garden" is planted or transplanted in spring or autumn. The spring period is very short, you need to have time to carry out all the work before increased growth. That is why amateur gardeners do everything in the fall. The plant loves loamy soil, which has enough organic fertilizers. If storm and melt water is likely to enter, then drainage is vital. The hole is half a meter deep and the same width.

The plant is unpretentious, but for the annual abundant flowering, it needs good care. It so happens that the peony does not bloom. There are several reasons for this. The main problem may be in the wrong landing site and in the landing itself. The rhizome of the peony must be sufficiently buried in the ground. Such a flower can be identified without flowering, it has a painful appearance. Complete pruning after flowering is strictly prohibited. So the plant loses the buds that are being laid. With the correct procedure, two or three leaves and the lower part of the peduncle remain. They are cut at the root only in the fall.For the winter, the plant is well sheltered from the cold.

Fungal diseases are dangerous for the plant. Most often they appear due to a lack of minerals and a weakening of the peony. This stems from lack of maintenance and improper early pruning. Regular watering and loosening of the soil in young plants, as well as subculture of older bushes, in most cases, prevents pests from affecting the peony.