If you dig up the peony with a BIG rootball (to minimize damage to roots), you can shovel dirt into the bottom of the hole and settle the peony/rootball back in, and then use the hose to wash off the extra dirt on top (while you are watering in the rootball anyway). For various reasons, I've had to dig up a peony with a BIG rootball on occasion at various times during the year. The peony always bloomed in the spring, but just not as heavily as it had the previous year, but by the second year, everything was back to normal. Last time I did this was this year--late winter/early spring--and it just finished blooming with about 8-10 blooms. Don't know that I would normally do this late winter/early spring in most cases, however. MIght be cutting it rather close.

Warning: That BIG rootball is very HEAVY. You might need an extra pair of muscles and another shovel to lever it up high enough while you shovel more dirt in the bottom of the hole.

Kate

Wait until fall. You are raising them to increase the winter chilling and promote more flowering. During the summer the leaves are producing food for the plant, when it is through, is the best time to dig and raise the peony. Al