Paeonies are notoriously "bad movers"

October is the best time to move and divide them.

We did this successfully, if you call 'success' the fact that they take a very long time to re-establish. It can take so long to get paeonies to flower in the first place that it's a pity to have to do this. Make sure you move it at the right time of year, which is autumn.

It can be done at the 'wrong' time. I had to move mine this spring and the photo below shows one of them coming into flower now. However it was a case of needs must and I would recommend waiting as above. Oh bother! can't make the photo appear here, but it is with my photos.

Keep saying this, but thwey are easier to move and get to flower than people think. The thing is not to plant them too deeply. Some of ours are actually just lying on the surface and they flower no trouble. If you must move them, then water them really well for a week before moving and water them well afterwards.

I agree owdboggy. I have moved many over the years and they are not as sulky as people think. and they dont read the books. the myth just gets repeated over and over.

Thank you everyone.
I think I shall be able to confidently move my large specimen in the autumn.

dreen