I planted peonies four years ago, they're growing well and the leaves are green, but there haven't been any flowers. My neighbor says it's normal for young plants, but I'm not sure. Maybe something's wrong with my care or where I planted them?
First check the planting depth - that's the most common mistake. If you buried the peony's root collar too deep, the plant will spend a long time building strength and won't flower. The renewal point (that thickening where the buds grow from) should be at soil level or at most 3-5 centimeters below. If you planted it deeper, it makes sense to carefully dig it up and replant it higher - yes, in spring or fall, but it's worth it.
Another important thing is lighting. Peonies love sunlight, and if the bush is in partial shade or under tree cover, it'll look beautiful but be temperamental about flowering. Buds need at least 5-6 hours of direct sun a day. Moving an adult bush is difficult, but if it's possible - think about rearranging things.
And finally, make sure you're not overdoing it with nitrogen fertilizer. Too much nitrogen gives you lush foliage, but the plant won't want to flower. With peonies, it's generally better to underfeed than overfeed. If the bush is healthy and the leaves are juicy and green, this could be exactly it - nitrogen excess with a shortage of phosphorus and potassium.
Your neighbor is partly right - peonies really do take a while to establish themselves, especially if you planted young seedlings, but three years without flowers is suspicious. It's most likely one of three things: either the peonies are planted too deep (the root collar needs to be buried very shallowly, no more than 3-5 centimeters), or they don't get enough light - they love open sunny spots and flower reluctantly in shade, or the soil is exhausted and needs phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in spring. Try digging up one bush and check the planting depth; if the collar goes deep into the ground, that's the problem - transplant it higher. If the planting is fine, then fertilize in spring and wait another year or two; usually after that the peonies will produce their first buds.
Planting depth - that's what I'd start checking! Peonies are really sensitive to how deep you bury them. If the rhizome sits too deep or, conversely, too shallow, the plant will grow lots of foliage but you could be waiting years for flowers. The optimal depth is 3-5 centimeters below soil level for the top part (the renewal buds) - no deeper!
When I planted my peonies, I also struggled with one bush at first - it grew big and healthy but no flowers. I had to dig it up and replant it at the right depth. The blooms showed up the next year! Also check the light - they need at least 6-7 hours of sun a day, otherwise they get "lazy" about flowering. If the spot is partially shaded or trees have grown up around it, that could be the problem too.
And third thing - don't overfeed with nitrogen! Too much nitrogen gives you thick foliage at the expense of flowers. If you've been using fertilizers, switch to potassium and phosphorus feeds in spring and early summer. It's also worth checking for disease or pests, though a healthy green bush doesn't seem to point to that.
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