Preparation

• Choose a place in your yard that receives at least six hours of sunlight. Avoid planting itoh peonies next to woody plants, because it forces them to compete for the soil's nutrients and moisture. Make sure that you have well-draining soil by digging a hole 18 inches deep and filling it with water. Let it stand overnight, and if it is not drained in the morning, than you know you have a drainage problem. Refrain from planting peonies on waterlogged soil, because they will succumb to root rot. Conduct a soil test on the planting site to ensure it is within right pH range. Depending on what type of itoh peonies you plant, they need a range between 6.5 to 7.5. Dig a 6-inch hole and collect soil samples to mail to the laboratory's address provided on the soil testing kit. Wait for the results. Add lime to the soil if it is too acidic and sulfur if it is too alkaline.
  
  

Planting

• Dig a hole that is twice the diameter and the same depth as the container or at least 6 inches. You want to make sure that if you have a grafted itoh peony that the graft is between 4 to 6 inches beneath the ground. Fill the hole three-fourths with dirt. Make sure that you pack the dirt tightly around the base of the plant to reduce air pockets. Water the soil thoroughly and add the rest of the soil. Spread mulch underneath the plant to lock in moisture.
  
  

Maintenance

• Water the plant weekly with 1 inch of water or 0.62 gal. per a square foot. You can better judge the amount of water you are giving your plant by watering by hand with a watering can. Make sure that you water your itoh peony at the base and avoid getting water on the foliage. Monitor your plant for fungal diseases like botrytis. Look for black spots on the leaves and prune away with bypass shears dipped in denatured alcohol and water. Make sure you throw away any leaves with the fungus underneath the plant, because they can cause the disease to continue to spread. Fertilize your plant with a fertilizer low in nitrogen. Monrovia has their own brand, but you can find one chemically formulated for peonies at your nursery. Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of mulch in the late fall to prevent your root system from being damaged by winter conditions.