Hello Friends of Mountain Flower Farm,

We’re now 10 weeks away from peony planting season—right on time to start preparing your beds for the healthiest, most spectacular blooms for many years to come.

Whether you're planting your first roots or prepping a production bed, the steps you take now will shape the entire future of your plants. That’s why we’re sharing some of the proven prep methods we’ve relied on  over decades of growing peonies for ourselves and dozens of other farms nationwide.

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? Peony Planting Preparation Tips:

1. ? Solarize to Start Clean

Got turf or a weedy patch? Mow it short, water it deeply, and cover it with clear plastic for 4–6 weeks.
The summer heat will kill weed seeds, pests, and diseases—while warming the soil and stimulating microbial life.
You’ll end up with loose, soft, biologically active earth that’s perfect for planting.

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2. ? Layer with Cardboard & Compost

Lay overlapping cardboard sheets directly on the soil to smother any surviving weeds. Then, top it with 3–6 inches of rich compost or aged manure.
This no-dig layering method feeds the soil and builds incredible structure and water retention—great for peony roots and easy to execute for home gardeners!

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3. ? Sow an Oats + Field Peas Cover Crop

Larger growers:
Instead of leaving your bed bare, sow a mix of oats and field peas now. It’s one of our favorite regenerative tricks:

• Oats suppress weeds and hold the soil in place.

• Field peas, a nitrogen-fixing legume, enrich the soil as they grow—and again as they decompose.

• Incorporate into the soil a couple weeks before planting and see how fluffy and full of organic material the soil will become. This is your peonies future food!

How-to:

• Plant ASAP (8–10 weeks before frost).

• Sow at about 5 lb per 1,000 sq ft, water lightly, and let nature do the rest.

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4. ? Amend for Strength

Peonies are long-lived, so soil quality matters. Test your pH (6.5–7.0 is ideal) and add what your soil needs:

• Composted manure for nutrients

• Bone meal or rock phosphate for root development

• Sand or gravel to improve drainage if needed
  
  - Choose a slow release orgainc fertilizer to give peony whatthey really need. Avid water soluable chemical fertilizers, their benefit will belong gone vefore the peonies are ready to start feeding. Look for a blend with higher middle (P) number. Our favorite is North Country Organics Pro Start.  

Give it a few weeks to settle before planting.

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? Why Choose Roots from Mountain Flower Farm?

We don't just grow peonies—we grow for growers.

As a trusted supplier to other flower farms, we specialize in curating proven, production-worthy varieties that:
✔ Save you trial-and-error time
✔ Offer consistent stems for design and retail
✔ Perform reliably in field conditions
✔ Are shipped fresh and directly from the source

Our roots are the ones resellers trust and rebrand—but when you buy from us, you're getting them straight from the field.
No guesswork. Just farm-tested genetics, grown with love and care, here in Vermont (and free of tariffs!)

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? Are You a Flower Farmer?

Visit our Wholesale Peony Roots page to browse varieties chosen specifically for cut-flower production.
Order now to secure inventory before the fall rush begins. Your future self (and your CSA customers) will thank you.

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? Your 10-Week Action Plan

Week	Task
Now	Solarize OR layer with cardboard + compost
Week 1–2	Sow oats + field peas cover crop
Week 4–6	Water and monitor growth
Week 7–9	Soil test, add amendments
Week 10	Plant premium peony roots from MFF ?

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We believe soil prep is an act of faith—a quiet investment in something beautiful that’s yet to bloom.

Thanks for letting us be part of your growing journey.

Warmly,
Walt & the Mountain Flower Farm Crew
www.mountainflowerfarm.com
Instagram @mountainfloweerfarm
? Grow with us. From soil to stem.