Blooming bushes overgrowing path?

My shrubs are overgrowing the path that I and my neighbours share. I dont want to cut it back as it may kill its flowering capacity. If it is cut back now, will it postpone the blooming for next year and will it bloom the year after that year.Blooming bushes overgrowing path?
MOST spring=blooming shrubs ARE cut back after they finish their blooming period.... that gives them time to send out new wood that will be the 'old' wood next spring that they will bloom on..... things like forsythina, almond, hydrangea, etc, can be cut back RIGHT AFTER they bloom, but before a lot of new growth starts, before June and July usually.....things like Knockout roses, which bloom all summer, can take a pruning and just delay flowering for a while.....





what shrub are you talking about?... name it and someone can tell you more about cutting it back now or not.....Blooming bushes overgrowing path?
I have a Buddleia (deep purple) among other bushes that I cut back radically each autumn. The new growth in th!e spring is amazing and the flowers are as usual.


I even recommend the pruning because once the woody stems get too thick, it makes it a major job.





It is a bit of a shame to cut back now as you will lose the flowers this year. The best thing to free the path a bit (with your neighbour agreeing to let you wait until autumn) would be to stake and tie back the bushes as much as possible. You may have to cut some but check that it is with the least amount of blooms.





Convince your neighbour that the butterflies and bees etc, that come, do a good job pollinating your area. If he's in a hurry, you can always cut back branches as soon as the blooms have finished.