Removing Lateral Buds
As your peonies mature and the buds begin to swell and develop, you may notice two, three, or even four extra buds forming below the terminal bud of the individual stem. These are the lateral buds of your peony; the more you find, the healthier your plant actually is. Rejoice! It’s a sign your peonies are happy and healthy.
However, you can’t be happy with these laterals; they are problematic little suckers in need of immediate removal. Why? Three reasons:
They are vestigial and will not produce a full, beautiful bloom as the terminal.
They are unnecessary sinks (drains) on your plant’s production energy and will detract from the full potential of your terminal buds.
They are more susceptible to disease than your primary buds and should be removed before spawning some unholy fungal or bacterial infection in your peonies.
Let’s look at how and when to best remove the lateral buds from your peonies.
Do it early.
It’s tempting to leave the removal of the laterals until later — after all, what harm are they when small? None, which is why they need removal during this stage; don’t wait for them to become a problem. Take action and begin the preemptive strike before the enemy can gain footing.
Remove the laterals AS SOON AS YOU SEE THEM. The smaller, softer lateral stems will be easier to break off and will do less damage to the primary stems.
How to remove them.
Garden sheers and floral clippers feel the safer choice, but they’ll take more time and effort. Instead, use your fingers. Pinch the lateral just beneath the lateral bud and give it a gentle, downward tug while simultaneously securing the terminal stem with the other hand by gently gripping just beneath the terminal bud above the lateral. The lateral should break off with ease and no tearing. This is why it's important to remove the laterals early; the smaller they are, the less likely you are to damagedamage the primary stem or bud.
What to do with them after.
Don’t throw them on the ground around your peonies; this could encourage disease. Instead, collect them in a bucket or bin and dispose of them elsewhere — just not in the compost pile, as this will encourage soil-born disease in your peonies should you apply the compost onto your peonies late. If you made the mistake of waiting too long to remove them, that’s okay; if you were careful removing them, you might find they can be bloomed inside in a shallow vase or basin of water.