Can I prune now??????

[Auricula]

We have an informal curve of cornuses ( dogwoods) the ones with the coloured stems. I know you should prune them in March and I usually do. This year, for a variety of reasons they weren't done.
They are now shading my alstroemeria bed i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/shocked.gif and OHG's grass path i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/rolleyes.gif He wants to trim them into a formalish hedge ( why do men like straight lines so much? ) and wants to do it tomorrow, with the electric hedge trimmers.
They are well established, so should survive.....I hope i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/cheesy.gif
Will it do them irreperable harm to be cut back now? and will they "take" to being formalised?
Thanks i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/kiss.gif

[Tig]

I don't think they will stay 'formalised' for long Auricula, mine always seem quite vigorous growers - unless he intends to cut them back to shape on a regular basis

I reckon they will soon sprout some more new growth to give you winter colour. To my mind they always look best when they are 'fan' shaped - perhaps you could convince OH to do a scallop top to his hedge ;D

x Tig

[Auricula]

I suspect he'll get frustrated when he can't "control" them, so hopefully, they won't look too butchered ;D - I haven't mentioned their wayward habits