Question
Hi! I live in the Chicago area. I have a varigated weigela that was very overgrown with lots of dead wood inside the bush.I cut away about 50% and am wondering now if I took away too much.Did I harm it? I also have an arrowood viburnum that is overtaking my walkway. I want to cut about 4 feet from the height. Will this hurt the bush? Thank you for your time. I have no idea what I am doing so please don't get too technical in your response. I'm a very novice gardener.  Thanks again. Marguerite

Answer
Margurerite:  The Weigela should be fine, you did correct by cutting the inside dead and larger branches away. you can also trim it for shape now, or after it flowers the first time si even better. this will give it better shape, and help it to flower again more this year.
the Viburnum, you could pretty much cut it back to the ground, and it will be fine. If it has multiple stems, such as the weigela has, cut out some of the largest ones, then trim it back for shape. some Arrowoods grow from a single stem, if this is the case, still trim some of th larger brances out, then just down for shape. you may also want to cut out say 2-3 feet this year, let it grow, then do it again like that next year. viburnums are pretty hardy, and can withstand a lot, so you should be fine.

Good luck.

Mark