By Cazoo1
Worcestershire,
United Kingdom 
Good morning....I would like advice on a Myrtle shrub...it is in flower at them moment and looks / smells lovely. It has reached a height of about 5ft and it about the same round. Because of its size it is blocking my view across the garden...so my question is how low can I cut it back in the Spring and reduce the girth?? I would hate to go too far and maybe lose it...any help would be appreciated.
25 Sep, 2015
Answers
Having looked in the RHS.....I am sure it is this one aromatic common myrtle (M. communis) I would have liked to add a photo but I cannot on this page. The leaves are evergreen with a delicate white flower.
25 Sep, 2015
Photo successfully added Cazoo.
25 Sep, 2015
Common Myrtle is a pretty common landscape shrub and hedge, here in the desert. We usually cut them down to stumps every ten years or so to rejuvenate them, so it's unlikely to die from overpruning. In the UK, however, I would prune it as soon after the last frost as you feel safe, so it can fill in and harden off before winter.
26 Sep, 2015
There are a lot of plants known as myrtle, can you be more specific please?
25 Sep, 2015