pruning of dogwood, hydrangea and azalea

Question

Dogwood – advised to coppice each March. Am I too late to do now and therefore need to leave? Is it also correct to coppice each year?

Hydrangea – told to prune to near ground level in spring. Is this the correct thing to do to encourage growth for spring and summer?

Azalea – same query as Hydrangea.

Answer 1

I personally feel uncomfortable with the idea of coppicing, unless you are attempting to create hedges. Even then it would be only necessary once, then one would trim the top of the branches. Here is an article that tells you about more accepted approaches to dogwood pruning: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/dogwood/trimming-dogwood-trees.htm
This article tells you about hydrangea pruning: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/prune-hydrangea-bushes-hydrangea-pruning-instructions.htm
This article will help you with azaleas: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/azalea/pruning-azaleas.htm