What's the best way of cutting these plants back?

Liatris "spicate kobold"



The Flower heads have nearly finished...Best way of cutting them back please ​

 

These are perennials that grow from corm-like roots. As with most perennials, the plants need to gradually die back naturally. The spikes can be allowed to remain so that seed can be saved. If the latter is not wanted then simply cut back to the lower part of the stem, leaving only the foliage.

Something gardeners don't like to see, and this is simply cosmetic, and that is a plant that has done it's job and now is shutting down. For appearance sake, brown decaying bits can be cut off, but IMO and practice, let nature take it's course. Usually frost will decide the matter.

 

They look great @Gail_68 , I saw some in the garden centre recently and thought they looked fab, so hopefully next year we will have some in our garden too.

 

I usually divide mine after flowering too. Easy peasy for extra plants next year.
I remove the dead flowering stems.....for appearance and I think saves the plant expending its energy on producing seed

 

Hello Mike, I do apologise for replying late...it looks like I will be cutting them down to the lower part of the stem..there's still flowers on the lower parts but I thought I would ask in the meantime and today we've had bad winds here with rain and this afternoon I had to put a cable tie around the stems just to keep them up straight the best I can although they'll still on the tilt

 

Hello Sienna...when they started growing in height I wasn't sure about the plant at first but when it flowered they're beautiful and they're an haven for the bee's

 

Usually after the first season in the ground, they will increase quite fast. The root/corm-like clump looks like a knobbly mass, just simply break it up and replant.

 

Apologies not needed. Take care and continue to enjoy your plants.

 

Well I have spare pots down the back garden and hubby wants to put plants in them...so they mays well be split