Question
QUESTION: I have four old ewes (30+ years), extremely neglected and allowed to grow too big and gangly.  Ten(tall) and five(short) feet respectively.  Is it worth trying to save them (By cutting way back?) or should I start over again?

ANSWER: To start off, I have no idea what plant your referring too.  I've never heard anything in horticulture called a ewe.  Do you know the latin name or another common name?  

My recommendation though, would be to try it anyway.  If your willing to start over again then cutting them back hard would be worth a try.  If it doesn't rejuvinate them and they fail to come back then you could try some new ones or another plant.  However, if it does work then you would save some money and from that point keep them controlled to how you would like them.  If you cut them back, take them down to about 6".  If you can get back to me with a genus and species or just the genus I may be able to give you more detailed information.  If you like the plants, trying to cut them back and rejuvinating could work and if your not scared of losing them you can give it a try.  They sound well established, cut earlier rather than later to give it a chance to grow a little this season.  I have heard that older plants dont rejuvinate as quickly as younger ones, so give it time before you dig them up and give up.  Try planting some annuals around them to cover your barespots if your worried about it looking "wierd" without them there.  I hope this helped a little.

Jason

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry, Jason, I think a ewe is a female sheep.  I meant yew, which is apparently either genera Taxus or Torreya of the genus Taxaceae.  Unless you advise differently now, I will cut them back and see what happens.  They have multiple stalk or trunks.  Should I cut them back equally or favor, maybe, the largest?  Thanks, Alan

Answer
That's funny, a ewe is a female sheep, you learn something new daily.  I know Yews though, they are extremely poisonous from what I've learned, especially towards horses although, deer seem to ravage them but I'm getting off topic.  It is of the genera Taxus.  Old, overgrown yews can be cut back to 12-24" to allow the new shoots to grow.  you dont have to pick favorites, just cut them all back.  These plants have, for 1000's of years, been pruned often into hedgerows or shapes but the natural shape can be kept by thinning them out from year to year by taking the old large trunks out.  Depending on what you want, my opinion would be to take all the yews down to 12-24" and sheering them during the summer if need be and keeping them thinned out to your liking to allow the shoots to continually grow and allow sunlight to penetrate not allowing the new grown shoots to get choked out over the years.  Every couple years, when or if they become unwieldy, you can rejuvenate them by again cutting them back hard to 12-24" inches.  The high of 12-24" is all a matter of personal preference though, anywhere between those two heights is more than acceptable.  Good luck with your project, I hope they turn out well!

Jason