Pruning big old bushes?

[WildThongsHeartString]

They were already here when we moved in. Don't know what they all are but there is a Californian lilac (I think?) a red Japanese maple, a hydrangea and a rhododendron . The ones that flowered have finished and dropped. They are quite overgrown so I wondered if anyone could tell me when the best time is for me to cut them back?

Normally September I would guess, that's when we cut down ours but I'm no gardener so Google may be your friend

Thanks for answering super

This is soooo not the thread I thought it was going to be

Very sad that this is in Gardening and not in Style & Beauty

Sorry to disappoint you!

ahem

one sensible answer and three of us turned up to giggle and talking smut. typical mn really

Ahem, ladies, order please.

Ceanothus - dont prune it it won't like it
Maple - dont prune it it will ruin the shape and look naff. If these two are too big consider ripping them out and replacing with something else
Hydrangea - prune in February to a pair of buds (will be obvious in February)
Rhododendron - hack back as much as you like, but ideally immediately after flowering. If you do it now you may lose next years flowers but it will flower again the year after.

Remember cutting back is very temporary and can actually stimulate a plant to,grow bigger than before.