I have just discovered that right now in my area seems to be a good time generally for most cultivars for me to pull brown dead scapes. That is what I have been doing for the past few weeks. As I pull the scapes I collect them take them to the shed, and measure each one, get a branch and bud count. I try to take a photo of the plant also. I have also, like mentioned above, discovered that if the plant has a seed pod or a proliferation the scapes tend to stay a little green. I have pulled a few by mistake, but am learning that if I tug a little and the scape does not release then check to see if it partly green, or if it has a seed pod (petty easy to see that) or if is growing proliferations (often hidden in the foliage). After pulling the scapes, I start pulling the dead leaves and the yellow or diseased leaves from the plant.
They look so much better afterwards, plus this way nearly all the green healthy leaves remain and the ugly leaves are removed, a win win situation as far as I am concerned.
I write down all the info gathered then come in and either post the info for the "plant of the day' thread, or write up a plant performance report if that plant has not been featured as a plant of the day. I will not get all the plants in the garden done by the end of the season doing this, but doing two or three a day does make a noticeable difference in the overall appearance of the garden.
