"Mitulove" wrote
Hello,

I'd be very grateful if you could help identify these shrubs in our
garden and advise on whether they can be cut back hard.

Thank you!

http://tinyurl.com/8gtd6fz

The one on the left? Lonicera nitida, probably Baggesen's Gold. It's
sometimes used as hedging. Yes, you can cut it well back and it'll
bounce back in no time, even more vigorous. I quite like them when they
look a little shaggy, but not long after that they can get out of hand!

http://tinyurl.com/95vwxbh

That looks like a Hebe pinguifolia, which I don't have, so someone else
will know better about that one. You can prune some Hebes fairly hard
back when necessary and they reshoot - at least mine have done when I've
got tough with overgrown ones, but you can always root a few cuttings as
back-up, they're quite easy. Often you can find a lower branch has
layered itself (produced roots where it's touching the soil) in which
case snip off, dig out and pot it up in gritty compost and you've got a
new plant to grown on in case the parent gives up the ghost.

--
Sue