Peonies & Lily of the Valley: Pure Enchantment

Peonies, with their lush and extravagant blooms, bring an air of opulence and elegance to the garden landscape. Their large, fragrant flowers come in a variety of stunning colors, ensuring there's a peony to suit every taste and aesthetic.

Meanwhile, Lily of the Valley adds a touch of whimsy and delicacy with its dainty, bell-shaped blossoms that dangle like tiny pearls. Not only are they visually captivating, but they also emit a sweet fragrance that perfumes the air with every breeze.

Together, these two beauties are an irresistible choice for any garden enthusiast looking to create a magical outdoor oasis.

Growing Peonies

For best results, plant these beauties in the fall, ideally late September to October in most parts of the U.S. Sure, you can try spring planting, but they might not be as perky as their fall-planted

pals. Give them at least six weeks to settle into their new digs before the ground turns frosty. They need a chilly winter to get those buds blooming come springtime. Once they're settled, they prefer to stay put. While they're not keen on moving, they'll happily stick around in the same spot for years, blessing your garden with their glorious blooms season after season.

Location, Location, Location

• Find a spot with at least 6 hours of full sun (and afternoon shade if possible).
• Shelter them from strong winds; their big, beautiful blooms are top-heavy, so giving them extra support with a cage is ideal.
• Keep them away from trees and shrubs; they're not big fans of competition when it comes to food, light, and water.
• Pick a spot with good air circulation; this is key to keeping these beauties disease-free.
• Miracle-Gro All-Purpose® Garden Soil will help ensure your planting environment is optimal, no matter what type of native soil you have.

Planting Tips

1. You’ll want to plant your peonies about 3-4 feet apart, so they have enough space to grow.
2. Dig a hole that’s 2 feet wide and 2 feet deep.
3. Blend equal parts of the soil you dug up from the ground with Miracle-Gro All-Purpose® Garden Soil.
4. Create a mound in the center of the hole and pop your peony roots on top, making sure the eyes (the buds that will become new flowering stems) are facing up.
5. Gently backfill the hole with the rest of the soil, giving it a little firming up as you go.
6. Make sure the peony's eyes don't settle any deeper than 2 inches below the soil surface.
7. Give them a good drink to welcome them to their new digs.

Extra Love

Peonies are the low-maintenance champs of the garden, thriving on neglect and preferring fertilizer in small doses. In fact, these beauties don’t need to be fed until after their stunning

flower display is done. For best results, use Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed Rose & Bloom Plant Food. Keep an eye on their fading blooms and give them a quick deadhead to keep them looking

fresh. When the cool weather rolls in, trim them back to the ground, leaving the ground bare and skipping the mulch cover. With these simple tips, your Peonies can flourish with minimal fuss,

leaving you more time to enjoy their magnificent blooms.

Growing Lily of the Valley

Standing at a modest 6 to 12 inches tall, Lily of the Valley is like the social butterfly of the woodland floor, spreading its lush green foliage in shaded areas. Now, here's a fun fact: while Lily of the Valley may look innocent, every part of it is poisonous to people and animals, so be sure to admire from a distance.

Location, Location, Location

• Choose an area where it can roam free or where hardscapes like sidewalks and driveways act as its boundaries, as it’s an aggressive spreader.
• Make sure the spot is covered with shade or only receives sun in the morning with partial shade in the afternoon.
• Miracle-Gro All-Purpose® Garden Soil will help ensure your planting environment is optimal, no matter what type of native soil you have.

Planting Tips

1. You’ll want to plant your Lily of the Valley plants about 6 inches apart.
2. Mix a 3-inch layer of Miracle-Gro All-Purpose® Garden Soil with the top 6 inches of the existing ground soil and then dig a small hole.
3. Place the bare root in the hole so it sits a ½ inch below the soil surface and the bud (called a pip) faces upward.
4. Gently spread the roots out in the hole and cover with soil giving it a little firming up as you go.
5. Give them a good drink of water to welcome them to their new digs.

Extra Love

In the spring, it's prime time to give your Lily of the Valley a little boost with Miracle-Gro® Shake'n Feed Rose & Bloom Plant Food as new growth begins to emerge. And keep its soil

consistently moist to keep it happy — this plant prefers not to dry out.

When the foliage naturally withers away in the fall, leaving it in place acts as a natural mulch, providing an extra layer of protection and nourishment for your plants.

With these tips in your gardening toolkit, you’re well-equipped to cultivate a sensational oasis that’s bursting with beauty. Happy gardening!