Peonies - can you prune 'em?

[basketcase]

The title says it all, really.

One of my inherited plants is a lovely, large, cherry red peony - which I've decided to call 'Snail Central' after Sunday

It's flopped and I've tied up to the stake I found driven in the ground nearby. But does it need cutting back for next year or what? (Never had a peony... )

[Flummery]

It will die back anyway. I generally cut off the stems of dead flowers and leave the leaves on till they die off much later in the year. Sometimes I cut the flowers for the house - they're quite long lasting - so I don't need to cut back those!

[vicky]

I cut the stems down to leave just one set of leaves, they're fab but such a mess once they've flowered! (these ones are 5 years old at least and are getting bigger and better so I know it leaves enough leaves to photosynthesize adequately!)

[sarraceniac]

I've had my red one since Noah invented irrigation and already split it for neighbours about 10 times. It's just in a corner of the garden and when it dies off I just leave it. My white one is younger (about 5 years) and more noticeable (it's in full flower at the moment but my red one is finished). I cut the white right back because of tidiness. I think you can do what you like with the exception of pouring paraquat over them.