If you don't like the appearance of your Echinacea seedheads in late summer and early fall, you can still tidy up their appearance and feed the goldfinches and other birds as well. To clean up, I wait until the stalk just below the seedheads turns brown/black. Cut the stalks and bundle like a bouquet and tie to the base of a pole or small tree. I do this so the finches can have the seeds, and it looks neater. The base of a shepherd's hook that holds your birdfeeders is an excellent spot to tie your seed bouquet.