If you are going to prune heavily, then I would go for the 'pruning after flowering' method. I have one in my front garden and I only very lightly prune in the late autumn to keep the shape. So I would leave it for now.

Thanks Jimmy. I never pruned the one in my previous garden, but this one is quite mature and has masses of thick growth. I just wonder if taking out a few of the spindly branches would really do any harm . . . but no, I won't prune heavily.

Oh, I don't know, if its congested, I'd prune it now -should really be done November, but its only early December. As you suggest, removing spindly, weak, damaged or crossing growth to open out the centre should be fine. If you're a bit nervous, just do the essentials rather than a radical renovation and then do more next year. info below from Crocus, which mentions Amelanchier pruning

https://www.crocus.co.uk/features/_/articleid.1078/

Thanks very much Bamboo . . . sensible advice as ever! How are you feeling today?

Thanks for asking - I think I might have a touch of laryngitis - at least, I hope that's all it is!

Oh dear - it seems like one ‘thing’ after another. I had an operation on my left eye in October, then another urgent one in November (unexpectedly). But thankfully I still have one good eye for reading and writing🙂

Hope you’ll feel better soon!

That's the price of age - lots of things need fixing!

Mmmmm :( It’s certainly amazing what surgeons can do these days ... I’m lucky really that I should have good sight again by February ...

Cataract surgery that needed a second surgery, was it? That's unlucky if that's the case, though not uncommon, but you're right, it is amazing what they can do...

That was the first op, Bamboo, yes. Then I had a slightly more serious detached retina, and got sent home twice by Moorfields although it was ‘urgent’. They put me on a waiting list saying priority was being given to patients with a better chance of success! So in despair we decided to throw our health insurance into the mix, although they “don’t like London prices”. You couldn’t make it up . . .🙂

Well thank heavens you had medical insurance, even if they complained about the cost. The state of the NHS these days is very worrying...

You’re right, and we are lucky. Sending you a PM.