Does anyone else have this problem? My spiderwort plants bloom great in the spring and early summer but after that the stalks look so trashy that I cut them back to about a foot. They still look bad and leave big black holes in the garden. Any advice? Thanks...

Spiderwort does best under cool and moist conditions. Given some heat and dry weather the plant tends to brown out and flop. I have two suggestions. One is to follow Hortis' advice and plant in the back of the garden or use a facer plant to hide the foliage. The second is don't plant it. I had this plant in my garden for a number of years and finally ripped out because it spread and never looked that great after blooming. It just does not have the staying power for a more maintained setting.
Dennis - Johnson County Extension