Hollyhock second year

Dirty Harry

Planted one last year that became a 12ft tower but I didn't cut it down at all in the Autumn.

I know they're a short lived perennial so should I be fine to chop it right down now and expect new leaves to sprout in the coming weeks? Or best to start with something fresh?

AnniD

I think they're usually treated ad as a biennial (although they can be treated as a short lived perennial).
Personally I would hedge my bets and do both  . Cut it back and see what happens,  but sow fresh seeds as insurance. I found they were a magnet for slugs and rust, so it wouldn't hurt to have several as insurance. 

Dovefromabove

Cut down the flowering spike ... that won’t flower again. The crown may throw up some more spikes this year if you’re lucky, but usually they behave as a biennial ,  however there may well be some new plants growing from seed shed last summer. 

Dirty Harry

It seems one hasn't been paying attention, there are already new leaves emerging.

Some signs of rust already though.