Trimming azalea bushes (flowers, grown, azaleas, how to)

[EveKendall]

I am completely a novice gardener, having lived in apartments my whole life. About 10 months ago I moved into a house, and it has been exciting to see what blooms. We have beautiful azaleas out front, but they are tall and spindly, and need to be shaped. Is it too late to do that this year (we are in zone 5 if that matters)? Is there anything else I should know before I start trimming? They are about four feet high and I want to trim about six inches from them. I am terrified I will harm them somehow--they were so beautiful in bloom!
Thanks for any advice.

[J&Em]

You just missed the window for the "best" time to prune them, but a few experts say some azaleas can be pruned as late as July. Generally for standard azaleas you would want to trim them right after they have flowered because they begin to form the buds for next year's flowers soon after.

Generally if you have overgrown azaleas you can sacrifice next year's blooms to a better shape and denser growth. The second year they should bloom well again. I've seen rejuvenated azaleas come back from having more than a third of their height cut back so I don't think 6 inches will hurt.

Here's a few links from reputable sources on azalea care, including pruning:

Azalea Questions and Answers
Azalea Society of America

The following is a link that addresses evergreen azaleas: Tips for Beginners: How To Prune Evergreen Azaleas

[Bulldogdad]

Prune away.

[KC6ZLV]

Yes, you can prune them.

You may want to make sure they are Azaleas and not Rhododendrons. They are related and look a lot alike. Some Rhododendrons naturally look a little thin and leggy as they mature.