Caring for Itoh Peonies

When your Itoh peonies have finished blooming, cut the spent flowers or seed pods off down to the first healthy green leaf.  Doing this helps your plant get a stronger root system and more, larger blooms the following year.   Do not cut the leaves back.    In fall, cut the Itoh peony down to soil level, although some people like to leave a couple inches above ground with good success.   This should be done after the first hard freeze when the foliage starts turning yellow.  At this time you can apply a small amount of low nitrogen fertilizer such as bone meal, fish emulsion or others.  Apply only around the drip line, not the center.  Discard the old stems.