Pruning help ( Nothern lights Azela )

[tab54213]

Please tell me where to prune my azelas by providing tips to promote new stem growth from the root. Over the past few winters rabbits took a liking to my plant which has caused the limbs to be long and bare. Please help me save my lovely plant !

 

[Shibui]

First, do something about the rabbits. No point promoting more low shoots if the rabbits are still about.
Deciduous azaleas are not my usual but they still bud on bare wood so if you want growth lower down just chop the long stems. It's not technical. Azaleas will sprout anywhere along the stems if they are pruned. If not pruned they just grow from the tops of the stems.
Usual time to prune azalea is soon after flowering because that's when they normally start to grow.

There's no way I know to get new shoots on a long bare stem and still keep the stem long. It will always try to grow from the tips if left alone.

 

[tab54213]

Thank you, my plan to keep the rabbits at bay will be to spray rabbit repellent through the course of the summer and cage them over the winter. I’m hoping this will prevent them from causing further damage to my plants.

I will give your pruning tip a try. We have just finished the flowering stage so now would be an opportune time for cutting.