9 Perennials You Must Cut Back Before Winter
And which ones to leave standing for the birds.
Fall cleanup does not need much from you, and that is the point. Start with healthy plants, give them a spot that suits them and water them through the first few weeks. After that, a layer of mulch and a quick look once a week is most of the job.
Cut back
Hostas, daylilies, bee balm and peonies: their old leaves carry disease over winter.
Leave standing
Coneflowers, sedum and grasses feed birds and shelter insects.