I don't know if this will solve your problem, but many gardeners cut them back after bloom, nearly to the ground. They send up fresh leaves that usually look better than the weather beaten ones from the winter. That clump is more compact too, so maybe your other plants will have more light. Sounds beautiful: a woodland garden with lots of huge columbines!

Hepatica

i don't think you'll ever really get rid of them. I keep them around as they provide the colors & like Faerie ballerinas decorate the surround while waiting for the flashy bloomers to put on their show!

I do cut most of them severely back after blooms are winding down ~ some to the ground to send back their lovely foliage, that I love, around where I allow them! Dead heading can be tedious!

I don't hesitate to cut mine back to the ground. Within a couple of weeks they have regrown with fresh new foliage. (I'm guessing that in zone 5 they are a dieback plant in the winter as they are in zone 4.)

Believe me, they'll come back next year. I plan to cut mine back next week. I've just started gathering the seeds two days ago. There's one variety that I can't find the seeds..clementine variety.