To Trim Back Perennials in Fall or Not?

I often let my perennials winter as they are, cutting them back in the spring. Terry prefers to trim them in the fall. (And our neighbor mows some of his down.)

I know it looks tidier to trim them back - but I don't think it makes any difference to their growth the following year. Besides, I like to think that the seeds left on the dead flowers provide food for hungry birds when snow is covering everything...














Flowers peeking out of a blanket of snow add interest to the landscape!