Earlier this spring I cut back a row of deer-ravaged euonymus shrubs to about 3-4 feet high to force regrowth. There is plenty of new basal growth and sporadic leafing out at the ends of the branch stumps but the middles of those branches/trunks (about 1 inch in diameter) are bare and unsightly. I can wait it out but am wondering if it would be better to cut them down much lower. And if so, is it too late to do it now? We have started having hot days. While these are in a quite shady spot, I have too much else to do than water them.

What is my objective you may ask.. Not sure! They are the legacy of a former owner who seemed to be separating a sunny and shaded area. I would like them to serve as an informal backdrop and screen, so will not be pruning into a a formal shape. To serve this purpose they do need to be thick, though. Not leggy or tree-like.