Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia): when and how to prune

Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia): when to prune it?

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Burnet needs hardly any pruning. Leave the stems standing over winter and cut them down in February–March, before new shoots appear.

What else to prune in those months? March

Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia): how to prune it?

1. In late winter, cut the old stems back to just above the ground.
2. In summer, feel free to remove flattened or untidy flower stems; the foliage stays attractive.
3. If the leaves are badly affected by mildew in late summer, cut them off: the plant will reshoot as normal in spring.

How much to cut, and how often?

• One pruning period a year: March.

What does it mean for wildlife?

• Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia) flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees.
• If you only cut back in March, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.

Nearby: related pruning guides

• Canadian burnet (Sanguisorba canadensis)
• Great burnet
• Japanese burnet (Sanguisorba obtusa)
• Menzies' burnet (Sanguisorba menziesii)
• Salad burnet

Plant profile: Burnet (Sanguisorba tenuifolia) · Pruning calendar and basic rules