Wet/Damp Peony Stems Are Easier to Handle
This is something I have been doing for a few years now. If you haven't figured it out yet, the best time to cut back brown peony stems is just after a rain. (I usually do it the day after a rain so that things aren't completely soaking wet.) Otherwise the peony leaves and stems are so brittle, they break and crumble so easily making a big mess in the garden, especially if you are trying to bag and dispose of them (which you should be to prevent more disease spread).
Rain from Last Night
After a rain however, they are soft and pliable, easily bagged and stay in one piece. We got over a half inch of rain yesterday. So today was a great day to get out in the garden and work in the peonies. I am not completely finished cutting back all of my dead peony stems for the year, but I have made a big dent this week while on vacation. I hope you had some time around the holidays to get out in the garden and enjoy the nice weather. We've had an entire week of 70 degree temperatures, which is unheard of for this time of year. Sometimes you will get a day here and there over the winter in the 70s, but never an entire week!
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