Peonies - are you supposed to cut back the dead leaves now?

[Flum]

Just that really. I understand you are supposed to let them die back but now garden full of dead peony leaves and looks yuk, how long do you have to leave them until?

I tend to leave them until the spring, as they provide a bit of protection against winter frost.

My gardener has cut ours back. I assume he knows what he's doing!

I cut mine back when they get brown and 'snappy'... if that makes sense...... they grow back every year so does not seem to be doing them any harm. Probably is not the right way of doing it though

Mmmmmm still not sure what to do then. OUrs were beeeooootiful this year so want to ensure they keep their erm strength

I've never cut ours back; just let them die off and they come back lovely every year. I assume they are like bulbs in that the foliage is needed to put strength back into the corms?

or maybe not!

some advice here

They don't much care whether you cut the dead leaves off or not - what they really like is a good thick mulch of compost or well-rotted manure in early spring.

Mmmm thanks LackaDC and 40+