| Stalks means flowering stems ~~ is that what you have? I don't live in borer country (we've got every other pest) but have never heard of cutting off new foliage/leaves. What I do hear is folks removing dead/dying leaves. A search at the bottom of the page will yield lots of information on borers. The FAQ at the top of the page has lots of basic info. Rhizomes are planted at least 6 weeks in the ground before the first frost date. I plant, thoroughly saturate the ground, and leave them alone for a month! Then I soak the area again. You can pre-soak you rhizomes but it is not required. | 
