Rude? My yard man cut my tree peonies back to the stem. How badly will...

[kaliom7]

...that retard their growth? They were only three years old,some bloomed this year. I take it they won't bloom next year.

[Little Granville]

Ongoing Care of Peony Plants

Use garden fertilisers such as blood and bone, potato fertiliser or nitrophoska blue
Manure can be used if well rotted; do not put over the crown of the plant
Autumn is a good time to apply fertiliser, spring can also be used

Cut off at ground level in autumn and burn tops

Keep weed free to reduce competition and allow good air movement for healthy plants
Some taller plants with double flowers may need support – use wire hoops. Put in the ground after the buds come through. The shoots will grow through them and are virtually invisible once the leaves spread out
The peony will grow better with regular watering especially up until flowering

[hopflower]

It is customary to cut them back (herbacous peonies) after foliage is dead or faded in the autumn, to about 2-3 inches high. It should come back okay in the springtime. Tree peonies sould NEVER be cut back. They will not survive it.

You may need to ask him to replace them for you. I am sorry that this happened, but if he ruined your plant, you could ask him to get your another one by all rights.