If the plants are healthy, it should bounce back quickly. Cutting it back hard when days are longest (in early Jun would be best) will ensure the regrowth is at its most dense (ensures shortest internodes), and ensures the fastest recovery from the work. I would suggest a soil test to see what nutrients are actually needed, rather than simply grabbing a fertilizer off the shelf. I would trim the plants back to about 2/3 of the ht at which you'd like to maintain the hedge.

Al

Thanks for the quick reply! City code prohibits any hedge over 10 feet, so I'd like to trim it sooner than later. Would I be ok to prune in early January? I don't think I can wait until June.

If you want maximum fullness, prune about 1/3 of the stems to 2 feet, another 1/3 at 4 feet and cut the rest at 6 feet. Do it in late spring (mid-April?) so the plants have all summer to grow.

This will give you a full base as well as mid and top growth.

Thanks for the help, everyone. One last question-the trunks are starting to thicken up, and there's minimal brances on the lower 4 feet. If I hard prune, is there a way to encourage new branch growth/development? Maybe it'll just happen naturally, but I thought I'd ask.

Cut them to within 6" of the soil. Be brave, because it's going to take a couple of years to come back. But they will be bushy and look great. You don't need to encourage them to grow. They will do that on their own.

Andrew, I have to ask - where are you located in S. Florida? If it's Coral Springs, go ahead and prune now. Code enforcement there is really fierce. And dumb. And your hedge will be fine. Fawnridge is right.

I was fined for cutting down a tree without a permit. I fought it (and won!) because it was blown down by a storm and blocking both directions of the street. City couldn't get to it so I took care of it. Silly me!

They told me I had to plant a new tree and I said I would as soon as I could get the stump ground. 2 days later they came and planted a live oak in my yard - and charged me for it. It was not the tree I wanted and they put it in a stupid place.

Oh - and don't ever let them catch you with a dirty roof! The roof police are worse than the tree police! LOL

I wish you were my neighbor. I had the exact issue you describe when I bought my property. After two years of mtnce, I tore them out. Only regret is I waited two years.

Another consideration is neighbors. Is your hedge planted far enough back on your property that you can maintain all sides? I battle this constantly with my neighbor's hedge. It's planted right up against the fence. I can't go up and down ladders any more, so I have to hire this done.

Good luck