I like the fall weather and the appearance of the flower beds and grass right after it’s been mowed. Grass always right after you’ve mowed. I didn’t do many annuals except for zinnias this year, and I think most that came up were reseeding from last year.
I have a lot of beds and looking after my perennials is always number one.
The question sometimes comes down to appearances and cutting back only what can’t wait until next Spring. I generally look at it as cuttings that fill two or three bags a day that leads to a trip to the recycling center either on Lone Pine or going out to the one on West Sunshine.
If it will fit in trash bag it’s going to Lone Pine. If it’s too big then it goes out west. Everything got too much rain in the Spring and got really tall so I’ll leave most until Spring then cut back and take out west.
Most of the consideration is both appearances and providing refuge and cover for the birds, small animals, and maintaining healthy plants with mulch through the winter. 
I don’t consider myself an expert but have been doing this for more than thirty years, so a bit of wisdom and experience goes a long way.
I try to do a little everyday depending on the weather. We have gotten a couple inches of rain this past week or so, so that everything doesn’t appear to be so dry. But I think we’re still in drought conditions… at least on my street.
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