By Jms
sussex,
United Kingdom 
Deutzia pruning
My deutzia is tall (about 12ft- 4mtrs).It is woody for the first half of its height & is very dense (many stems from the base).
I would like to get some new growth at the lower level.
Also
I want to reduce the height by about 3 ft( 1 mtre) but this would get rid of most of the foliage.
How do I best acheive this?
It flowered in June - is it ok to prune now? If so - will it flower next year?
THanks
21 Aug, 2013
No and no. This one should be pruned immediately after it has flowered. Renovation of the sort you describe (where you want to remove half or more of its topgrowth) can be carried out in winter though, by reducing height and cutting down to the ground some of the stems. This does mean, though, that you won't have flowers the following year, but when shrubs like this get out of hand, it's often the only thing to be done without removing the whole thing.
21 Aug, 2013