wouldnt you want to do it.. BEFORE new growth begins.. so that your guiding cuts will start the filling in process ... yews are conifers.. there is a such a forum ... and a lot of those peeps do NOT hang here.. i figure cover all your bases in the quest for knowledge ... conifers have different pruning rules that flowering shrubs.. so part of your problem is your choice of words ... 'shrub' is a common term.. and the rules vary widely until you define the specific plant ... with your need for a pristine look ... i just dont know what to tell you without a picture .... worse you can do is mangle them so bad.. that removal comes to the forefront.. and i am thinking .. you might want to take that leap ... but that is for the future ... i would definitely start on the least conspicuous one ... do not forget.. you could take one on either side.. perhaps the ones closest to the porch/walkway .. to free up some space.. i dont know.. because i cant see it ... many conifers do NOT have dormant buds.. and if you cut to bare branches .. that branch will die.. i dont have yews.. in my 500 conifer collection.. so hopefully others will chime in in that regard ... if so.. you would need to prune back but leave green to grow ... and by doing that.. and this springs growth.. one would hope you avoid the ugly gaping holes and brown sticks ... pix please ken

Happy Memorial Day, Leslie. Reduce the amount of clay soil as much as it is practical. Hydrangeas like soils that drain well so the more you can do now, the better. Your mophead plant selections will tolerate some local clay soil if you keep the content low. But something like an oakleaf hydrangea would probably have a fit. Fertilize once, in June, since you are in the northern half of the country with 1/2 a cup of manure, cottonseed meal or a chemical fertilizer (slow release, general use, about NPK 10-10-10, just apply the proper dosage per label once in June). For more information, check out the link below. Does that help you? Luis Here is a link that might be useful: Hydrangea Planting Information

I don't know about the Texas Wildscapes site, but I did sign up & apply for the NWF cert. last year. I paid $15 I think for the sign & cert. The application was short & not detailed like one I filled out a few years before, but never sent in. I do believe it is just a ruse to get you to support the NWF, which is fine if that is what you want. But you get the magazine & numerous letters throughout the year for donations for the organization. I think anyone could pay the money & get the cert. & sign no matter what their yard is like. I will put up the sign in my yard soon, but I would check into other sites for a legitimate site next time. I am proud of my wildlife habitat yard & love the critters & birds that visit. In DWG they watch for overgrown yards too, but seem to respect the wildflower growers as well. However, there is one nearby that I question whether it is in good taste. They do kinda look more like weeds while they are drying out.

Thank you all so much! I agree it would be nice to see the number of votes. I think they will post the results once all the voting is over. I know they were first place in the first round, with a lead of 128 votes. So thanks again! :)