Pruning Chinese peony 'Karl Rosenfield'

Herbaceous peonies like 'Karl Rosenfield' do not require pruning in the traditional sense, but they do need an annual autumn cut-back. In October or November, once the foliage has been blackened by frost and died back naturally, cut all stems down to ground level. Use clean, sharp secateurs and remove every stem, leaving just the crown at soil level. This tidying is essential: peony foliage often harbours fungal spores (particularly peony wilt, *Botrytis paeoniae*), so leaving old stems and leaves in place invites disease to overwinter and reinfect new growth in spring. Dispose of all cut material in your green waste bin or burn it—do not compost it, as home compost heaps rarely reach temperatures high enough to kill fungal pathogens. If you notice any stems wilting or browning during the growing season, cut them back immediately to healthy tissue or right to the base and bin them to limit the spread of infection. Deadheading is beneficial but not strictly necessary. Once the large, double red blooms fade in late spring or early summer, snip off the spent flower heads just above the first set of strong leaves. This prevents the plant from putting energy into seed production and keeps it looking tidy, though it won't encourage a second flush of flowers. Leave the foliage intact after flowering; it continues photosynthesising and feeding the roots for next year's display. Only remove it in autumn as described above.