Survival Tip: Leave the faded flower stalks of sedums in place over the winter. They provide winter interest poking through the snow as well as nutritious seeds for visiting birds.
Survival Tip: Trim dead peony foliage back before winter. That way, the new spring foliage won’t have to poke through the previous year’s dead leaves.
Survival Tip: Help coneflowers and other newly planted perennials survive their first winters by clipping back their dead stems and covering them with a 1–2 inch layer of mulch after they go dormant in the fall. Uncover them in the early spring after the soil thaws.