Winter honeysuckle pruning

JenC2

Hi all, 

Could someone possibly offer me some advice about my wintering honeysuckle please? 

I inherited it a couple of years ago when I moved house, didn't know what it was and hacked it back because it was so overgrown - a huge bushy thing with lots of dead wood. It didn't flower until this winter, which finally confirmed to me which variety it was. 

I've pruned it more carefully this time after flowering, but there's very little new growth on it, it's mostly the messy woody branches. 

What I'd really like to do is rip all of the woody mess out and essentially start again so that I can control the shape and size from scratch. Is this possible, or will such heavy pruning kill it? I know if I do this now I will sacrifice flowers for possibly a couple of years, but surely this is better in the long run? And also, is it too late in the year to do this now anyway?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :-) 

Thanks

Yviestevie

I have neveer cut my winter honeysuckle back, I just trim it after flowering, but I have cut back a summer honeysuckle almost to the ground as it was woody and horrible.  It has grown back much healthier, but I still don't get many flowers.  Thats about the best advice I can give really.