Brining bush rejuvenation (landscape, growing, backyard, spring)

[icibiu]

I have some burning bush lining the far edge of my backyard. Behind it is all woodland in its natual state. These bushes are goodness only knows how old and have not been maintained possibly ever.

I want to trim them waaaay waaay back. I've read i can cut them back to a few inches from the ground to rejuvinate them. However on my bushes the first set of branches is about 3 feet from where the stems leave the ground. Is it really ok to cut it all the way back to just a trunk?

Also, im seeing conflicting information on when to trim. Is it ok to do now? (Ideal!) Or do i wait for fall??

[sll3454]

In some places burning bush is considered invasive. Hopefully yours aren't a problem. However, there's a reason it can become invasive: it has no trouble growing back, whatever you do to it. I have removed five burning bushes, but I still have them growing from bits of root that I missed.

[motordavid]

Most of the Net sites suggest to hard prune/cut them back in early Spring, just before or soon after new green growth...
'Shaping' is usually reserved for late late Autumn/early Winter depending on where you are, and after all Summer growth and Autumn color of BB is complete.

But, even hard pruning seldom kills BBs, though they may look like they got a crew cut for a few seasons.

I would not cut them to the ground unless you want to try and kill them or you are willing to wait a year of more for them to look like BBs again...

Yes, considered invasive on some state's lists, but other than way overgrown, I have not seen them invading/taking over a landscape, in terms of numbers, but their size can be considerable.
GL, mD