Can I move my peony? - Page 2

I have three species peony which are leggy but produce beautiful flowers - although not many.  My problem is we are moving house and I want to try to take them with me.  Two are in a too wet area of the garden at the moment anyway and have just flowered.  Can I cut them down and put them in large pots - we are moving beginning of October? I would envisage them having to stay in pots for a yesr?  Should I cut them down now, then pot them as late as possible?

Let them die down naturally - at the moment the leaves are feeding the tubers ready for next year.  Lift them just before you move then plant into the new garden as soon as you can or into pots if that's not possible.

Nearly Green, we had to move a Peony for sentimental reasons when family member died. Knowing they don't like disturbance I was worried. It was planted in our garden and then 5 yrs later we moved, it lived in a pot for 2 yrs and then finally I braved it, split it into 3. I have 2, in different locations, hoping one place would suit, and a family member has the other. All three have flourished. I did prepared bed  / planter beforehand and took as much rootball as possible and did it quickly.

The original one was from my Mum in laws, and it had been transplanted from her Father's. So it must be over 40 yrs old. I hope you're successful.

KEF  One of the growers was talking (at Chelsea I think)  about moving peonies and she basically said it is a myth.Don't know why it seems to be one of those 'facts' we're always told about them.  I've moved them before too and thought I was just lucky but apparently not! 

Factoid: Something everyone knows but isn't true.

I'm always moving things around including paeonies

Phew, glad I didn't give more duff info'.

I've got plenty of duff information if you need some KEF 

KEF wrote (see)

Phew, glad I didn't give more duff info'.

I think it's great that you have that history with the peony KEF 

I've got plenty too nut!

I think that when peonies get moved sometimes they get planted too deep - they don't like that so they won't flower, so people say they don't like being moved.  

The trick is to move them carefully and keep the depth the same so they don't notice 

and the roots of an established paeony are so enormous you need an excuse to leave it alone.

Leaving our last house but renting it out, I realised I really needed to move two peonies from a very shady area there they were doing nothing to the front garden in full sun.  I only had a spade, dug them both up and carried them to the front.  I dropped one on the way.  Planted both to the same depth and three years later our tenant has left and I've been back - they're huge!  I honestly think the planting depth is the key.  Good luck!

I agree, it's definitely a myth that you can't move them - I've done it several times and got flowers at the usual time.  It would be a mistake to cut the leaves back at this time of the year though.  That would seriously weaken them.

I've moved them succesfully by planting as shallowly as I can.  I have heard that the reason they do not like deep planting is that the buds need winter chill to prepare them for flowering.