PEONY PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS 
Peonies should be planted in soil which is at least as well fertilized and pulverized as 
the soil in the vegetable garden. Do not use fresh manure. The ground must be drained 
perfectly. Elevate the peony bed at least three inches above the surrounding soil so that no 
water can remain upon it. Plant the roots about four feet apart. Place the root in such a 
position that the eyes or sprouts will be exactly even with the top of the bed, and then 
cover them with two inches of the finest soil you can procure. 
Do not cover the eyes with more than two inches of soil. 
One inch is enough for growth, but should the eyes become uncovered, it would ruin the 
plant, for the eyes cannot withstand the sun’s rays. Consequently, we recommend two 
inches as the safest amount of covering with the word of caution that a deeper covering 
than this will result in weaker, slower growing plants. 
When the ground has frozen to a depth of about two inches, cover a newly planted 
Peony bed with two or three inches of leaves, straw or other litter, to protect from the 
alternate thawing and freezing of February and March. The freezing does not hurt the 
roots, but the continued thawing and freezing lifts newly planted roots out of the ground. 
After the first year no covering is necessary. Remove the covering about March 25th 
to April 15th and be careful not to break the tender sprouts. 
THE COMMON MISTAKE IS PLANTING TOO DEEPLY. 
WATCH THIS AND PLANT THE ROOTS ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS 
THE BONNEWITZ PEONY GARDENS, Van Wert, Ohio | 
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