Golden Privet mostly bare branches in late May

Question

We live in Southern Michigan. Our winter weather lasted into late April, and then we had torrential rain in May. As of May 28th the majority of the branches do not have leaves or buds that we can see. The only branches that have leaves are the lowest branches. Is there hope that buds will appear soon? Should we prune all the bare branches down to the few branches that have leaves, and hope for new growth, or should we remove the entire bush and plant new? We have had them for several years.

• 

Answer 1

Mine look the same in east central Indiana.