Water well until the soil is completely moist. Cut off the base of old flower stems using bypass pruners. Trim off old leaves in early spring with scissors. Mulch around, but not on top of, the plants with 3 inches of organic compost in spring. Purple coneflowers make good cut flowers for indoor arrangements.
Finches like to eat the seeds from old flower stalks left on the plant.
Purple coneflowers don't need yearly fertilizing. Inc. How things get done. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy .