Pruning!!!!

Sorry everyone.....I'm basically a blue-fingered hopeful with minimal gardening knowledge let loose on a garden which has been left to its own devices for about 7 years (I moved in and inherited it in May) - with freshly sharpened secateurs. So I've been setting to with the mindset that most of the plants are now so borderline anyway that I can't really do any more harm (kill or cure) and chopping right back.
However, a quince really has got me beaten. It's so leggy and really all tangled up in itself, branches bending in and out every which way. I suppose it's just under a metre in rough diameter. I would like to not damage this one - so how hard back can I go with it please? Everything right back to 2-3 inches seems a step too drastic?? I'd be very grateful for suggestions.

 

Hi

I would start with any branches crossing and rubbing each other , quince to me always looks messy , any chance of photos may able to help with your question

 

Yes. it does look a right mess. Sorry I can't muster the technology for photos.
Should I chop those crossing and rubbing right back (2 - 3 inches)? How far back should I do the others? Thank you for your advice.

 

Sorry Spruce, I've muscled in on your reply.

Yes JJ28, you can cut the crossing ones right back to the main stem they are growing from. How big is the shrub please?

 

glad you have I dont like giving pruning advice out just in case ........

 

The plant is roughly about 1 metre in diameter, almost that in height at the moment.

 

Any branches you think are growing in the wrong direction you can cut back to the adjoining stem. If it is over crowded towards the centre you can thin out branches the same way. Once that's done just tidy the rest by pruning it into a reasonable shape but not to hard, taking back to just above a leaf bud on each stem.

 

Thank you, I'll rummage around in it with secateurs if this dreadful rain ever stops. Most of the branches are very "leggy" with all leaves at top, no buds further down so I may have to thin out quite a lot and hope this invigorates it.