Heavy Clay Soil

Preparing the soil for planting bulbs is important. For peonies and tulips the soil pH should be 6.0 to 7.0 or neutral. Heavy clay soils are not desirable, so poor soils should be amended with organic matter like compost, peat moss or your own compost pile before planting. Loamy soil is ideal. Both peonies and tulips will do well in full sun or partial shade, but in California and warm weather climates, peonies need filtered sun or part shade during the hottest part of the day. In full sun, some extra water on hot spring days will extend flower life and allow the bulbs to mature properly after flowering.

When I lived in Palo Alto, California where I had heavy clay soil, I used a three foot square half inch screen build with a wooden frame set on saw horses to separate my soil from hard lumps and rocks and added a large pile of aged redwood debris that had accumulated under the largest redwood in the city. It made a wonderful, fluffy soil which maintained the water holding quality of the clay with the added benefit of organic matter providing spaces for oxygen, nutrients and water.