How do you divide a peony plant?

Question

I have avery large peony plant in my garden.
How do I divide it and when.
And if I was to plant the seeds it now has on it would they grow.

Answer 1

The best time to plant or divide peonies is in late August or early September.
To divide a peony, cut the top of the plant back to 4 inches. Dig around roots on all sides and carefully lift clumps. Do not break side roots. Shake off excess soil and wash roots with a hard spray of water. Discard any disease or insect infested roots. Divide the clump with a knife or sharp spade. Allow from three to five buds for each new clump. Do not plant newly divided peonies more than 2 inches deep; plant new divisions as you would new roots.
If you click on the link it take you to a site which will explain how to grow from seed

Answer 2

Alice Harding in her book 'The Peony' states the consensus is to plant in the fall. Sept or Oct are usually the best to allow time for more roots to grow before dormancy. As a general rule it is 10 days before roots are well started with optimal conditions. She says when planting before mid-Sept the buds on the roots are not likely to be fully formed. If planted late in fall they wont set roots so can be heaved by frost or rocked by winter winds.. Both of these problems affect quantity and quality of future blooms.
It is best to prepare the new planting site as far in advance as possible. If you need to double dig or seriously renovate the soil it will need time to settle. This means a hole at least 18 inches square and deep. If this is done and the new divisions planted immediately they will sink leaving you with the same effect as that of planting too deeply. Peonies will not bloom if planted to deep.
In settled, organic soil, fertilized with 5-10-10 and bone meal, at pH 6 plant the roots so the top eyes are2-3 inches below grade in the finished bed. If the soil is very sandy, light, they may be planted 31/2 inches deep.
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk/grownet/flowers/peonies.htm
Small divisions of 2-3 eyes should be planted at 2 inches depth and given some winter shelter like a cloche or plastic covered frame to keep the ground warmer. Place the cloche over the the mulch then bank more around the sides 1 inch deep. Remove promptly as shoots begin (this will be after the snow melts or in March usually).
Never plant where peonies have been before without soil restoration. Just like roses, peonies fail if planted in depleted soil. Dig out some of the old soil and replace it with compost to use the site for a new peony.
First cut the old stems to 4-6 inches.
To dig the old peony; encircle it, loosening the soil around the perimeter. Use a transplant spade or square end spade if you can. Lift the plant free and place on a screen or support to wash soil from the roots. If you have a soil sieve/screen set it up supported between two buckets. You can set the plant on the soil sieve and wash the soil off. You will be able to clean the dirt off the crown and the roots while standing up.
The goal is 3-5 eyes per division. The eyes are pinkish buds. Cut the plant to retain solid groups of eyes. Small divisions have fewer resources to withstand stress.
Water in well to settle soil and removed all air pockets. Water until ground freezes then mulch. Never mulch them before the first hard ground freeze. Do not use manure as a mulch on peonies. Peonies are susceptible to wilt and rot caused by fungus that can grow readily on manure. Use a dry mulch like straw, Likewise always remove the old stems and leaves of your peony to remove the fertile trouble source they could become if left to decompose in place.

Answer 3

It is too late to divide. It is best to divide plants early spring or in fall after the first frost. I'd wait until fall. Here, you will love this web site it is very informative regarding the division of peonies.
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1993/8-11-1993/peony.html

Answer 4

Peonies don't divide well. They often die if you try/

Answer 5

you have to wait till autumn, then you dig it up and split the root