Is this philadelphus congested to hell?

[toomuchtooold]

I've just been looking at this Philadelphus and it's totally congested isn't it? The RHS says to prune 20 percent of the flowered growth back to the base but other than a light prune I gave it when we moved in three years ago, I don't think it's been touched in 10 years. I hardly know where to start. Anybody know a decent strategy for how to prune? I know I need to do it after flowering but what shape am I aiming for?

Doh. Picture.

With mine I pruned one quarter every year, immediately after flowering. Usual advice is to prune from the centre, but this will be very difficult with such a congested plant. For now I would take out some of the height and take maybe 4 outer branches righ back the ground. Then take out maybe two or three inner branches down to waist height. This will allow light and air into the plant. Some people feed the plant after pruning but if it flowers well, I would not bother,

Once the plant had flowered then you can prune harder. Taking maybe another quarter and reducing the height much more. Alternatively, you can take it right back and do a proper job of shaping it. You will have to wait 2 years for it to flower again but you will get an easier to manage plant.

If you are going to do the drastic prune, do it now as there is no point looking at an ugly plant for a further 6 months. You will get no flowers this year, but if you cut out the middle and leave some of the outer branches longer you will get some flowers next year,

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=194

I'd chop that back to the ground, and then start pruning it once it flowers again, after next year.

Or dig it out and split into 4, give 3 away or replant elsewhere and replant one. Then leave to flower and start pruning away the 1/3 of the weakest growth each year after flowering.

Thank you! I will wait till after flowering to prune because it's the favourite haunt of the local sparrows right now and also because I am too lazy to do it twice