Skip to content
How To Grow Flowers
Menu
Perennials & bulbs · Guide

How to Prune Peonies: Fall Cutback and Tree Peonies

How to prune peonies: cut herbaceous peony stems to the soil after frost, never cut back tree peonies, and why disposal and seed-head removal matter.

Iris BellPublished Oct 25, 2026 · Updated Oct 25, 2026 · 2 min read
A large pale pink peony flower with a ruffled deep-pink center and golden stamens among green leaves
Photo: Jebulon, CC0

Cut herbaceous peonies down to the soil surface in the fall, after frost, and never cut back tree peonies. Clemson says to cut the dead stems of herbaceous peonies to the soil surface after frost, and Wisconsin Horticulture says to cut all old leaves down to ground level in the fall. Tree peonies are different: Clemson says “NEVER cut back tree peonies,” because they are woody shrubs. This guide sits under our peony care guide.

Herbaceous or tree peony?

The first question is which type you have, because the two get opposite treatment.

Herbaceous peonies

Cut the dead stems down to the soil surface in fall, after frost (Clemson). Cut old leaves to ground level in the fall (Wisconsin Horticulture).

Tree peonies

Woody shrubs. Do not cut them back in fall (Clemson, Kansas State). Kansas State says the stems are left to produce the flowers each spring.

When and how to cut back herbaceous peonies

  1. Wait until after frost. Clemson says to cut back the dead stems in the fall, after frost.
  2. Cut to the soil surface. Clemson’s wording is down to the soil surface. Wisconsin Horticulture says down to ground level.
  3. Remove all above-ground material. Ohio State Master Gardeners say to cut all peony plants to ground level each fall for disease control.
  4. Clear the debris. Ohio State says to rake, remove and destroy mulch and plant debris that was beneath infected plants.
  5. Optional: a light feeding. Kansas State says a light application of fertilizer can be made in the fall when cutting back the withered foliage.

What to do with the cuttings

Clemson says the cut stems should not be used in the compost pile. Wisconsin Horticulture says to destroy the debris, not compost it, for disease prevention. Penn State’s perennial guidance agrees on diseased material: destroy, not compost, diseased stems and leaves.

Seed heads after bloom

Clemson says to remove seed heads after flowering is finished. The reason it gives is that this lets the plant store more energy for next year’s bloom.

Cutting stems before moving a plant

Iowa State says that if you are transplanting or dividing a peony, begin by cutting the stems off near ground level before you lift it. Our care guide has the full dividing steps, and notes that a moved peony may skip a season or more of bloom.

Mistakes to avoid

TypeCutting back a tree peonyClemson says never to cut back tree peonies. Kansas State says their stems are left to produce each spring’s flowers.DiseaseComposting infected stemsClemson and Wisconsin Horticulture say not to compost the cut stems. Penn State says to destroy diseased material.EnergyLeaving seed heads onClemson says removing them lets the plant store more energy for next year’s bloom.

For sun, planting depth and dividing, see our peony care guide.

Frequently asked questions

When do you cut back peonies?

For herbaceous peonies, Clemson says to cut the dead stems down to the soil surface in the fall, after frost. Wisconsin Horticulture says to cut all old leaves down to ground level in the fall.

Do you cut back tree peonies?

No. Clemson says never to cut back tree peonies. Kansas State says they are not cut back to the ground in autumn, and that their stems are left to produce the flowers each spring.

Can I compost peony stems?

Clemson says the cut stems should not go in the compost pile, and Wisconsin Horticulture says to destroy the debris rather than compost it, for disease prevention. Penn State says to destroy, not compost, diseased stems and leaves.

Should I remove peony seed heads?

Clemson says to remove seed heads after flowering is finished, which allows the plant to store more energy for next year's bloom.

Why cut peonies back at all?

Disease control. Ohio State Master Gardeners say to remove all above-ground material each fall, and to destroy the mulch and plant debris that was beneath infected plants.

Sources

  1. How to Grow Peonies in South Carolina, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home and Garden Information Center
  2. Peony, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture
  3. Cutting Down Perennials in the Fall, Penn State Extension
  4. Fall Peony Care 101, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County Master Gardeners
  5. Peonies: The Ultimate Pass Along Plant, Kansas State University Research and Extension
  6. Transplanting and Dividing Peonies, Iowa State University Extension, Yard and Garden