Should You Cut Back Peonies in Winter? Experts Weigh the Pros and Cons

It may be time to break out the pruning shears.

Peonies in the garden — Credit:
Jasenka Arbanas/Getty Images

Key Points

Cutting back peonies matters because timing affects their health and helps prevent diseases from returning next spring.
Prune peonies only after the leaves die back since those green leaves give the plant energy for next year’s blooms.
Winter care is simple—cut stems low, keep tools clean, and add mulch to protect young roots from deep cold.

During winter, many are itching to get back into the garden, even as frosty temperatures set in. It's not a bad idea to get started on some maintenance during this time, but what should you do with your peonies? These pink, red, and white blooms put on a show-stopping display starting in late spring, but they aren't fans of colder weather.

So, should you get out the pruning shears in winter? Here, we spoke to experts about how to care for your peonies this season.

Paris Lalicata, head of plant education and community at The Sill
Elizabeth Brown, resident gardener at Cliff House Maine

When to Prune

Timing is critical. “Ideally, the best time to prune peonies is late fall—once the foliage begins to die back and turn brown or yellow—and after the first frost," says Paris Lalicata, head of plant education and community at The Sill.

You can wait until later, however, there are certain risk factors involved. “Pruning in winter won’t harm peonies, especially if the plant is already dormant, but it can increase the chance of diseases overwintering and resurfacing the following season,” she says.

Where you live and where you plant your peonies also matters. "In the Northeast, peonies should be pruned right after the first frost but before we get into freezing winter temperatures," says Elizabeth Brown, resident gardener at Cliff House Maine. "Peonies bloom in early spring, but their vibrant green leaves are important for photosynthesis, which provides energy for next year's plants. Therefore, you shouldn't cut the leaves until this process has taken place."

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How to Prune

Pruning your peonies isn't difficult. “Simply prune off the dead leaves and cut back the stems so they're only a few inches from the ground,” says Lalicata. “Avoid composting the plant material to prevent the spread of disease. Peonies are very susceptible to powdery mildew.”

Brown recommends trimming the stems to 2 inches above the ground. Make sure you use clean tools.

Winter Care Tips

Peonies are pretty hardy, but young plants may benefit from some mulching, which will protect the roots during winter.

“I’ve personally just used fall leaves from trees, and raked a thick layer around the bases of the plants, but you can also place a 1 to 2 inch layer of organic mulch,” says Lalicata. Brown also recommends using leaves or even seaweed. This will protect the root of the plant from extreme cold and frost.