Peony is considered the king of the garden landscape. Its large flowers and leaves, vitality and frost resistance made this plant one of the most popular. Bright and more delicate pastel colors of large flowers, which are kept for a long time on a bush and cut, their pleasant enticing aroma do not leave indifferent even those who are far from gardening. Openwork lush foliage of peonies persists until late autumn, turning dark green from crimson. Bushes of this culture and without flowers are attractive in flower beds. Moreover, the peony is durable. Without transplantation, it can grow in one place for decades.
The Pionov family includes more than forty species. Most of them are represented by grassy varieties. In culture, peony has been grown since ancient times. Today, breeders managed to breed numerous varieties and hybrids of this plant, which have a variety of shades. One of the best is considered Peony Carol.
Description
The flower has repeatedly won at exhibitions. This herbaceous milk-flowering plant blooms incredibly plentifully. Its large buds, when opened, reach sixteen centimeters in diameter. Their shape is very similar to a rose: the same high folded petals, which are twisted in the central part into several "tops". Brilliant flowers do not lose their color - a red-purple tint - even under the bright sun. In addition, they have a pleasant aroma. Carol is a pretty peony. It reaches a height of ninety centimeters. At the same time, the stems of this plant are not very strong, so they need support.
How to grow peony
Variety Carol is mid-early. It is perfect for decorating the site in single or group compositions, as well as for cutting. Landscape designers use this beautiful flower as a spectacular accent on the flowerbed. Sometimes it is planted like a green hedge along a wall, sidewalk or driveway.
Carol is a peony who prefers fertile, neutral, well-drained soil. During planting, it is not recommended to deepen the root system too much, since in this case the plant may not bloom. Watering a peony should be moderate. In case of stagnation of water, the roots may rot. In late spring, it blooms. For two whole months, Carol is pleased with her beauty. This peony, like other members of the family, is winter-hardy enough, so you do not need to additionally cover it. Before the onset of frost, you just need to cut it to the root, mulching with compost.
Watering and feeding
Peony Carol does not need to be watered often. For every adult bush, two or three buckets of water are required. Moisture should soak the soil to the depth of the root. After each watering, the soil must be loosened. This contributes to the conservation of moisture in the ground and the containment of weeds.
After the flowering period ends, the young plant needs to be fed with universal fertilizers. Exercise it better in a non-root way. From the first days of May, once a month, foliage from a watering can with a sieve should be watered with a solution of mineral fertilizers. Foliar top dressing is carried out in the evening or in cloudy weather.
Adult peonies at the beginning of the growing season also need it. Foliar top dressing is carried out three times with a twenty-day interval, starting from the second week of May. The first time you need to make a solution of urea at the rate of fifty grams per ten liters of water. For the second time microfertilizers are also added to it (one tablet per the same volume). For the third time, the plant should be watered with a solution with two tablets per ten liters of water.
Some tips
Before freezing, almost all peony stalks should be cut and burned at the soil level. The remains should be sprinkled with ash - on the bush three or four handfuls. Shelter for adult peonies is not required. Cutting should be done in dry weather in the early morning, when only the outer petals are bent. Flowers should be immediately placed in water and placed in a cool vase for a couple of hours. The water in the vessel should reach the leaves. Peony flowers that open quickly can be made to close by placing the stems in not too hot water.