I cut mine back to the ground when the leaves start to yellow. Giving them additional water may delay the yellowing somewhat.

You just have to plant something in front that will hide the plants after you cut them back.

I cut mine back when they begin to yellow also. Mine come up through a bed of Sweet Woodruff so it looks fine after I cut them back.

I have mine planted in front of a Kerria simplex. They bloom together in the spring & then are just green until the bleeding heart starts to yellow. Then, I cut down the Dicentra & the Kerria's arching stems cover the bleeding heart's space. The Kerria will throw a few flowers all summer long after its initial spring flush.

/T

Here is a link that might be useful: Kerria simplex

If you water it well it will greatly delay the foliage die back. Mine stays green all summer well into the fall...not that that solves your problem with a big green bush doing nothing...but.....
I think I would water it well to make sure it would put on a good show next spring and at the first sign of yellow and droopy cut it down. I never have dealt with a dicentra that is "front and center" they always are at the back of the garden, so other stuff covers them up when they finish blooming.
Linda C

Thanks for the advice. I will cut it down now and I will definitely be moving it. Sweet William to cover it in it's new spot will be nice I think. Another question, since it will pretty much die out by fall, when is a good time to transplant? Fall is usually the best time but would it be different with a plant that is pretty much gone by fall?

I divided one in the spring and lost it....both parts! So I am not the one to ask....I now ponder very carefully where I plant a dicentra!
Linda C

Dicentra is notably difficult to divide.

The best time to divide dicentra is when it's finished flowering, and the foliage has declined. It's good to let it go as long as you can stand it, so it can take in and store nutrients (through the foliage) for next year's growth. You can divide either now or in the fall - I wouldn't do it in the spring - you want the roots to have plenty of time to get established before winter, and before the blooming season.

mwieder's comment surprises me - I've never known this plant to be difficult to divide. Just prune off all the declining foliage, dig it up, cut up the root mass (it will look like a big lumpy unpeeled potato), and plant each piece in a new location. The bigger the pieces you plant, the bigger the plant will be when it comes up next spring. You'll also get a plant or two coming up in the old spot, from whatever fragments of root mass might have broken off when you dug it up.

I have plants all over my yard, the garden at the church, and my neighbor's yards, and they all came from one tiny dried up "bare root" plant that I got from a mailorder place about 15 years ago.

This plant doesn't need a lot of fussing, it's very hardy in zone 5, and, in my experience, and that of other gardener friends, very easy to divide successfully.

I've never tried dividing one - Wal-mart always has a few in their seasonal garden shop for $5 which is how I got my white one. That beauty is still blooming.

Being a practical gardener, I've moved them when they required moving to get them out of harm's way. It was definitely easier once the blooming was finished and the foliage was going - didn't have to be cautious of breaking any branches.

How soon will you have your new bed ready? I'd say, cut back the yellowing foliage some, but leave enough so you can find and still handle the plant easily. When ready, dig wide and deep because the roots are a bit brittle and transfer the whole root ball. Water in and wait for lovely new growth next spring.