Question
Laura,

Is there a best time and best way to prune back azaleas.  They haven't been tended to for 3 years?  They are kind of all over the place, shooting up all over.

Thanks,
Karen

Answer
Karen,
Get an electrical or battery powered hedge trimmer or a hand held hedge clipper. I use both.It is MUCH easier using the battery powered trimmer though on large shrubs that have overgrown their space.If you have some growth coming up from the roots where they should be,just cut as far down as you can on the stem area of the ones you don't want.I know how you feel about untidy shrubs.After you get them back into shape by doing a drastic trim job,be aware that they may not bloom in spring as usual.They may take another year to bloom.Azaleas set their buds in the fall and bloom in mid to late spring.So don't be alarmed if you don't see any blooms this coming spring.Good luck on your project!