Well, you're right about that...every time I pull into the driveway I'll get mad all over again. smh! Do you think it will damage them too much if I go ahead and "finish the job" with the hedge trimmer or should I prune instead?

OMG...I just took a good look! The hedge trimmer isn't sharp...so now there is jagged cut edges on every branch and twig! If I'm not mistaken- isn't this going to invite all sorts of disease and pests?

I prefer a more natural look, so i would go with my loppers or pruners rather than the trimmer. Then you can selectively cut back some branches and return the bush to a more natural look. If you are fine with even sides and just want balls instead of squares/rectangles then use the hedge trimmer to round the edges. I dont think it would hurt them further. In general, I think selective pruning is healthier for an azelea then hedge trimming, but I'd have to fact check that before I said it was an absolute.

Yeah, my opinion of hedge trimmers is that they are fine for trimming back things that you don't care about-particularly fence covering. I'm just getting too old for this! I'll have to "fix" it Monday. Sure appreciate your input jesshs!

They were trimmed because.....?

If they were growing out over the lawn, cut the lawn back rather than shear the azaleas to the lawn as it is now.

If they're growing out over a sidewalk or driveway, move em'. Some judicious pruning can be done....for awhile.

If they are crowding other plants, move them or the other plants.

Trimming an azalea, if at all, should be done with a light touch. Shearing them is usually not called for, as far as I'm concerned, no matter what shape.

Mike

I would go in with sharp hand pruners and clean up all of the cuts. Hedge pruners will really mangle shrubs. At the same time you can get rid of the ugly shape. When pruning remove dead or dying branches, and open up the plant so air can circulate, preventing disease.