9 Plants Not To Cut in Fall: Birds Need Them for Winter 1 Coneflowers Echinacea Leave seed heads standing through winter. Cut back only in early spring. 2 Black-Eyed Susans Rudbeckia Keep dark seed heads until late winter. Goldfinches & chickadees feed on them. 3 Sunflowers Helianthus Large seed heads = natural bird feeders. If stalks flop, lay them down or prop up. 4 Joe-Pye Weed Eutrochium Tall seed heads feed small birds. Foliage adds snow-cover shelter. 5 Goldenrod Solidago Keep stems and seeds all winter. Sparrows & juncos rely on them. 6 Ornamental Grasses Miscanthus, Panicum, etc. Dont cut back until spring. Provide seeds, shelter, & winter interest. 7 Sedum Autumn Joy Leave dried flower heads intact. Birds love seeds; adds frosty texture. 8 Asters Leave uncut until spring. Birds feed on their small seeds. 9 Native Shrubs with Berries Viburnum, Dogwood, Elderberry Keep berries for winter food. Only prune weak or diseased branches.