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what you do.. would be based on your goals ..

one thing for sure.. i would cut out more of those ugly old stump like branches ... now that you can see they arent going to bud out ...

after doing that.. i would probably be patient ... you can always take more later ...

but .. again ... what is the goal ... answer that.. and you answer what to do ...

ken

Goal is to get it to fill in and be pruned eventually to a formal hedge

same height.. same width.. etc ...???

you need to define each dimension ... and then cut the bigger stuff back further ... so you have fresh growth out there.. that will take to shearing ...

you cant leave those giant one inch stubs out there... or they will show thru.. as they are now ... or they might wreck your shears ...

you dont need to give me numbers.. just think about what i am saying ... and cut accordingly ...

i cant tell if that fence is wood or vinyl ... if wood.. think about training that hedge back to facilitate painting ... when it become necessary ...

you could basically have cut these things to the ground ... but it would have taken a few years to get back to this height ...

i guess what i am suggesting... is called rejuvenation pruning.. removing 1/3 per year.. for 3 years.. to totally renovate the plant ...

but you are trying to maintain height.. while accomplishing it a different year ...

i think.. lol .. i am talking about continually cutting out the old ... and renovating it a bit more.. than just whacking it back ... as some of the new stuff down low... in a year or two ... then keep thinning out the old ...

ken

If you want a formal privet hedge cut all the new growth back by half. And do it again once or possible twice this year. Privet hedges need constant maintenance. I curse one on my way home because it grows across the sidewalk every year and the owners don't appear to notice it is forcing pedestrians into the road.

I think your right about rejuvination pruning. That's my plan but should I wait until until next late winter?

Also for the next growth should I cut back to try to get more branching?

Thank you. That's exactly what I was looking for. I want to seem to be as full aservice possible

should I cut back to try to get more branching?

==>>> you should cut back.. according to your goal ... this is getting frustrating ... i will try one more time ...

if you shear it now.. and right now its at the height you want to end up at ... of what point is more branching ... its already too high ...

if you want it at say.. 4 feet ... then you should have cut it back to 3 feet .. and then let it grow and shear it.. multiple times.. to end up nice and thick at 4 feet ... with lots of branching ....

i suspect.. with the fence behind .. its already at the height you want it... if you want it higher.. then that is your goal .. so say so ... and then branching would be helpful ...

if the fence is the height you want ... .. then shearing it.. will not get you new branching.. because you will always be shearing it at fence height ...

any clearer .. i will check back.. and try again .. lol

also.. btw.. your goal should be no higher.. than with your two feet planted on mother earth.. trust me on this.. you dont want to be shearing this thing on a ladder.. presuming its of any length ...

ken