I have cut back both seasons and dont see any difference.
My Apache Sunset was reseeding too much.
This is from Bluestone
"Most will self sow to spread, so deadhead to prevent seeding. Cut to about 6" in late fall and remove debris. Remove unwanted seedlings in spring. To promote strong stems, avoid too much water and fertilize only once a year in fall. "
Nice to see I have done something right.