So, I am trying to clean out some azaleas for a friend and want to know if I am going to do damage to them. This house has not been kept up and has had the azaleas growing for probably 5-7 years without being trimmed so the bushes are in excess of 8 feet tall in some areas. The neighbors have told me that the azaleas haven't bloomed in over two years (maybe more), so it is definitely time to cut them back and try to rejuvenate the plant.

Can I cut them back now or should I wait for a certain time frame?

Note - I am not worried about them "blooming" next year because as I stated previously, they haven't bloomed in a couple of years so what's one more.

I just need to trim them so the house doesn't have bushes growing all over it, but don't want to kill the plants all together.

Thanks in advance.

This post was edited on 7/18/17 at 11:21 am

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Posted by Martini

Near Athens

Member since Mar 2005

49616 posts

Posted on 7/18/17 at 11:34 am to tcomea3

You can cut them back now but they will not bloom because of it. When cutting them back-if you want them to bloom next year, it needs to be done just after they have flowered.

But to help them cut them back now. Not a problem.

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Posted by Easternrio

Member since May 2014

3755 posts

Posted on 7/18/17 at 11:48 am to Martini

I would wait till the end of spring. If it's been 7 years since they've been trimmed what's 6 more months

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Posted by eng08

Member since Jan 2013

5997 posts

Posted on 7/18/17 at 11:48 am to Martini

They will grow back even if you trim them to within 6" of the ground. I have done it on all of mine, in fact I need to trim again shortly to shape them all.

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