Pruning a weigela

I have a weigela florida variegata which has been left so that there are 2 long trunks and foliage very high up, rather than it being bushy.

How would I get this back to a bushy state? Do I cut to a pair of buds on the trunks and other shoots will form from there, or would that be too harsh?

Re: Pruning a weigela

Reply from Angie Robertson

Weigelas can be pruned very hard back to promote growth further down. Idealy they should be pruned after flowering.
However, if you prune back very hard you will probably have to sacrifice flowering next year in order you get the shape you require. Alternatively you could prune back 1 trunk this year and the other next, this of course may lead to the shrub being lop sided, if you know what I mean. The choice is yours. Once you have the shrub to a shape you require you should prune regularly, this should be 1/3 of the branches each year - to keep your shrub in a shape you want. Although I haven't looked - I'm sure there are pruning instruction here on shoot on how to prune flowering shrubs correctly.
Alternatively - you could consider growing a flowering climber up the bare stem to extend the period of interest.
Hope this helps.
Angie