Since these eventually get to be small trees, yes, you'll need to start hacking. There is a house on my way home from work that never trimmed theirs and they grew to a height well over the roof ridge (it is a two-story building!).

Usually these are trimmed before new growth emerges because now you'll have to you chop off the nice red new growth, but really, any time in spring is fine.

To grow red tips as a hedge near the house, you'll likely need to trim it back several times a season to keep it in check. It will be an ongoing effort. These are not really the best choice of shrub for this location.

Too bad it's covering your beautiful window. Usually one grows something very low under the windows (like a Carissa holly, for example) that will not obstruct the view, unless that is your goal.

Aw, that's a shame.....it's a perfect example of the wrong plant being selected for the site. A red tip photinia can be a really nice specimen tree if given a little bit of help.

Photinia respond nicely to proper rejuvenation pruning. By cutting the plant all of the way back to the ground, the final result will be a full shrubby plant.....not a hack job. It can re-grow three or four feet within a few months.

The builders planted that

I like them in front of the window, b/c they give me privacy but still let light in

But they are way too big now. I usually trim them with hedge clippers twice per year

Have nighbors who trimmed their two down to the ground

One came back smallish

The other not at all

I was thinking of just trimming back to hard wood and going from there

Funny how the word 'hack' comes into play, in an operation where surely no ax or hatchet will (or should) be involved. Rhizo's got the best idea-a full renewal-that is, the removal of all stems to down as near to ground level as possible. All the time, I hear folks saying "aren't you supposed to leave 6 inch stubs" or words to more or less that effect. No, you aren't "supposed to" but you might anyway. It will still work, but these and a host of other multi-stemmed shrubs ideally present new stems from below ground, not weakly-attached sprouts along one of those stubs. And yes, in some cases, practicality takes over, and you do what you can.

+oM

.it's a perfect example of the wrong plant being selected for the site.

==>>> not really how i look at it ... ... its more of proof that someone planted for the size it was in the pot.. and had no concept that the darn things.. never really stop growing ...

frankly.. really.. kill them.. and plant your own mistake ..

or ... in the alternative ... learn how to prune on it... with the understanding that if you butcher it... see above...

if this were out in the back of the 4th acre out.. i would enjoy the process of seeing what i could do about this... i am positive.. i would not like a renovation project out front.. where my neighbors would mock me generously ...

google this term.. for general information on the process : REJUVENATION PRUNING OF SHRUBS ...

the process is general .. rather than plant specific ... and you might even find some youtubes ...

properly sited.. it should have been 15 to 20 feet from the house ....

ken

Builder installed landscapes are usually not too good because that's not their expertise. I've redone a ton of them over the years. Most builders and Real Estate people are the worst to work for when it come to landscapes. They just want it to look good for the sale for the very, very least amount of money. The future be damned.
I feel a rant coming on. Where's my meds?
Mike