What to do with aquilegias after flowering?
By Katya
Kent,
United Kingdom 
Several years ago I was given some aquilegia seeds and aquilegias of various sizes from only a few inches to three feet tall are now randomly distributed round my garden. Most of the tall ones are clumped together at the front of a border. They have almost finished flowering and now look tired, the seedheads aren't especially attractive and they are very conspicuous. Should I cut them down or just leave them to soldier on till the autumn?
On plant
Aquilegias
20 Jun, 2009
Answers
I collect the seeds first
20 Jun, 2009
I cut most down to leaf level but leave some to seed , because I want them either to spread naturally or sometimes to collect the seeds.
20 Jun, 2009
We cut them down to the ground as soon as the flowers are finished, but before the seeds are ripe. That way we do not have a million unwanted plants to weed out.
21 Jun, 2009
im the same as owdboggy, i have lots of self sown jobs that are pretty but i have to be ruthless and get some dug out as being too samey.
21 Jun, 2009
No, cut them down, but leave any stems that aren't too bad to look at.
20 Jun, 2009