..when is the best time to prune azaleas? I'd like to do it now (May in Sydney), but unsure if I might be cutting back potential buds at this time of year.
Well, Carole, it is a bit late now (May) and you would probably risk loosing new bud growth.
Its always best to prune after flowering - especially Azaleas.
This can be anytime throughout summer but this late in to autumn is too risky as the new flower buds will have started to form, albeit that they would still be small.