We did a massive cleanout of an overgrown bed. Half dead bushes and lots of ivy vines, ground cover, etc. The only thing I left was the rhod because it did bloom last year (our first year in the house) and I hoped cleaning out the bed might help.
However, it's at least 15 years old and was pretty neglected. It has a lot of open space. There is dead wood in there and some really thick branches which have blooms at the ends, but nothing else. I cut out some of the dead branches, but not all. I'm afraid to do a complete rejuvenation pruning way down because I think those branches may be too thick to have viable buds - even though the tips have blooms? Here are some photos of it now:
There is a tiny bit of growth on the bottom:
I don't know if I should just take it down to there and hope it starts anew?
It's not the most attractive like this:
I don't know if I should just take it out and start with a fresh one or hold my breath, cut it way down and wait. It's my first time having this shrub. I wanted to give this one a chance; however, inexperienced with them.
Thank you!