These two have been together since 2001. I have never really trimmed them back and just left them to fend for themselves every year. One is Claire De Lune and the other is Hagley Hybrid. The trunks are now about 1 inch thick and twist as you can imagine. The two were planted about 6 inches away from each other and have formed a wonderful partnership.

The plants have not declined in their vigorous growing and blooming nature, but I'd like to know how I would go about cutting them back. I'd like to do a a serious trimming this year and preferably soon. Both are showing new growth at this time, but there's a lot of dead stuff from past years and I'd like to see that all cleared out.

Any info appreciated.