I like to leave mine until after the winter. The goldfinches like the seed and any they miss can spread around and produce free plants for you in unexpected places.
I saw a commercial grower on TV a while back explain about his growing methods. He was asked about correct pruning and basically said he doesn't have time to neatly trim the plants so they get hacked back very roughly. Of course he was harvesting the flowers in the summer as well so he was pruning to keep plants viable for longer. Probably not the best advice for a prized plant but it does show they're tougher than we give them credit for.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
@wild edges I would love it if I could tempt some goldfinches into the garden! I've only had goldfinches visit my garden twice, once in June and once in July, despite all sorts of different foods and plants being provided. I am crossing my fingers that they will decide to visit a bit more often this year.
Good to know that even if I am not an expert pruner, I am still unlikely to completely kill the plant. Thanks.
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Good to know that even if I am not an expert pruner, I am still unlikely to completely kill the plant. Thanks.