What do I do when my perennials die.I have never had a garden and have really learned a lot from you. I don't know if i should cut them back or just let them die away?I have columbine,diathus and some blue scabiosa. I have some forget me nots that should get here soon ,so I want to be ready. thanks for all your help.

I'm in NC. Cut the dianthus back, they will probably come back in the fall. If you keep them deadheaded in the summer they'll continue to bloom for a long time. As far as the columbine, mine stops flowering but stays green until the frost. I don't do anything to it.

The columbine I just leave alone, I do collect some of the seed and put it in other parts of my garden.
The dianthus I just take a pair of clippers or scissor's and cut straight acrossed the top, they'll will give anther bloom usually.
The scabiosa you can deadhead and they will keep blooming for quite some time... I have several kinds of those, blue/purple and yellow.
The forget me nots' for me here have bloomed in the spring time and I personally let them go to seed, and the flower stem die back and when I get around to pulling the flowers' stalks off, the seed falls to the ground and reseeds it's self, also, there's already babies starting for me under the momma's... I have a big~huge area for them.

Any other kinds you have???
Let us know!!!

Weezie