Great thanks, would it work to cut back the wriggle and cornus hard even if they are quite old? lots of thick stems very close together and leaf growth right at ends. I don't think they were intended to be a hedge they are in a patch of lots of shrubs that haven't been touched for years so some have died off underneath all the growth and theres a mahonia with very long straggly branches and only a few leaves sticking out at top. Just can't decide what to do.??
Thin out the weigela, cut half stems right to the base, and leave the rest til next year. These are best pruned by cutting out the older stems to the base which gives the young stems room to breathe.
Thanks nutcutlet, the spirea does seem to get everywhere. I've cut cornus back before in a previous garden I think because this is very established and the stems really thick and entwined it seems really drastic and I wasn't feeling very confident, but I will go for it!
Posts
I am just creeping really
want to ask a favour 
ask away.
thanks . You'll make me blush.
Thanks Hosta, I will email you, couldn't take a refusal for the whole world to see.
Hi everyone and thanks.
1. Was taken out on a walk, you see it everywhere near me but a friend has it in her garden and it spreads like mad, so wanted to help her out.
2. Is like a hedge shape.
3. ah ha yes I think so.
4. its a round mound, I don't think its Hebe. this is next to it;
which I think is Hebe.
no
2&3 have been in garden before we arrived and used like hedge/screen - don't quite know what to do with them as they are rather big and straggly.
thanks again
This latest photo is a hebe, 4 is buxus
In the sticks near Peterborough
Great thanks, would it work to cut back the wriggle and cornus hard even if they are quite old? lots of thick stems very close together and leaf growth right at ends. I don't think they were intended to be a hedge they are in a patch of lots of shrubs that haven't been touched for years so some have died off underneath all the growth and theres a mahonia with very long straggly branches and only a few leaves sticking out at top. Just can't decide what to do.??
If they were mine;
I'd dump the spiraea
Thin out the weigela, cut half stems right to the base, and leave the rest til next year. These are best pruned by cutting out the older stems to the base which gives the young stems room to breathe.
Do much the same for the cornus.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks nutcutlet, the spirea does seem to get everywhere. I've cut cornus back before in a previous garden I think because this is very established and the stems really thick and entwined it seems really drastic and I wasn't feeling very confident, but I will go for it!
Many thanks again