Probably getting too much shade, also the outline of the upper parts makes it look like they were topped at one point - which can cause falling open due to additional forking. As they now have ugly bare bottoms anyway and can be seen right through I would take them out and start over with something else.

what he said ... but ... define saved ...

they are serving a purpose from the top of the fence up ... in that regard.. there is nothing to save ...

the solution down below.. is to plant some new shrubs ... which will fill in down below ...

you would do this.. by planting 3 to 5 feet out from these ...

if embo is correct about shade.. you might go into something like rhodies or azalea ... depending where you are.. i dont see that you mention such ...

but looking at the lawn ... and surmising the shade i wonder what the big trees are.. and how they might interfere with new transplants ... such as highly competitive maples sucking up all available moisture .... hence what the lawn looks like ...

you are in a box.... you have to step out of it .... you will not regenerate the old plants down low ... so lets think about alternatives besides removal ...

if it is shade ... part to the problem.. will be that many new plants will lack vigor... so trying to plant something new.. to block above the fence.. MIGHT take a very long time ... so that is why i suggest leaving it.. while you grow something else...

ken

We are in zone 7a. There are no maples nearby - we had a case of grubs which is why the lawn looks go great. The trees are in almost full sun - the lower plants are blocked by the house and the garage but the trees get plenty of sun during the day. I planted two hydrangeas in front of the trees but they are still small. I plan to plant more to fill in the space. I am also growing ivy on the fence behind them. The annoying part is how the branches fall. I don't want to cut them back anymore but they look horrible if I don't tie them back.

i dont know what to tell you about the flopping ...

but again ... you might want to plant taller replacements out front ... so that .... in 5 to 10 years... these can be removed ...

they flop here in MI ... usually due to snow and ice load... i am pretty sure thats not your issue.. lol ...

i wonder why yours flop .... if they are not in shade ... when did you move in ... and could a large tree have been removed???

meaning they grew for a lot of years.. in the shade we wonder about ...????

ken