Trees, Shrubs and Conifers: pruning advice, please, 1 by David_Paul

David_Paul wrote:
msmouser....right about deep pruning boxwood. Let some light into the interior. Watch out for white flies. We have a neglected boxwood hedge alongside the south porch. I've been trying to reclaim it and its a real battle with the flies. May have to just chop it all down.

Had a ratty looking azalea when we bought three years ago and I figured it was a goner. My 88 yr old mom went out last spring after two or three sickly blooms and slashed it down but good. It exploded in blooms this year. Reading about azaleas I see you do prune right after it blooms and before next year's buds form. My mom never grew them so she either lucked out or subconsciously remembered what her mother used to do.

Unfortunately I don't have a before picture: