You can cut the plants back to the ground and the remaining root and stems will resprout for a second bloom in the fall. I do this every year when the plants start looking scraggly. You don't have to pull out the entire plant, just get rid of the unsightly foliage, and you'll have stronger, well-established plants next year that will give you a better show.

I mostly yank mine right out of the ground, I always have more than enough from reseeding, in fact I don't think I could get rid of them if I tried. Try the various color forms - they are worth the effort to maintain.

central_cali369 and chadinig, thanks for your replies. I think I'll do a combination of your suggestions. The poppies really took to my yard and I've found they've spread a little beyond the areas in which I intended to confine them. I've been yanking those right out of the ground (and surprised to see the roots resemble carrots!). The prospect of a second bloom in the fall is very cool, so I'll probably cut those back to the ground and see what happens.

Thanks again!

I leave mine in until they look really ratty, then yank them out. I'm always puzzled at how much they look like carrots, the tops and roots.

Linelle, you must have really enjoyed those poppies. Spectacular!