Without a photo to illustrate, it's a bit of a guess as to how well "butchered" junipers can be revived into some sort of pleasing form.

In many cases, these large growing forms are savin or tam junipers and seem to be a default planting by builders or homeowners with little plant imagination. And in time usually always outgrow their location. They can be restrained in size by pruning, but by selectively cutting back individual branches to a growth node, rather than by indiscriminate shearing. That always results in the butchered appearance you describe and is nigh on impossible to convert again into an appealing shape or form.

If they readily encroach on walkways and require frequent pruning and you find them messy, then by all means remove and replace with something more suitable. Again, photos would help with suggestions best suited to the site but knowing your preferences for size, evergreen or not and flowering or not would be helpful as well.

btw, have you even noticed any aromas emanating from these junipers, especially on a hot sunny day? Savin junipers are known for having a unpleasant, musky aroma (some describe it as that of a male cat) in hot sunny weather. Not a nice fragrance by the front entry!

If you are looking at bare stumps those cannot be expected to grow back. The only way such plants can refurnish areas made bare by hard pruning is by growing in from the side, where foliage is still present. This can be a slow process.

It sounds like you should just take them out and start over with a new planting of some other kind of shrub.

Ok, so I've finally figured out how to upload to photobucket and will have pictures for you.

I have not noticed any smells, they are very messy. I can do without the mess.

http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/smarge117/media/IMG_0885_zpswo0qlgzr.jpg.html

http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/smarge117/media/IMG_0884%20240x320_zpsdykjjpk0.jpg.html?filters[user]=144642920&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=5

Move the path or take out the shrubs, which are just going to keep trying to get a lot bigger. Do you want to try to work them back behind the edge, then keep shearing them every spring? Also you still have to let them grow at least a little wider each time or you will eventually end up with a wall of stubble.

The pointed outline makes them look like they are really juniper trees that want to grow multiple times bigger than they are now.

If removing them seems like too much work would limbing them up do the trick? As Embothrium says they are essentially trees so you could consider giving them bare trunks with the branches starting above head height. You could try the look out and if you don't like it just keep sawing until they're gone.

Smarge, no insult intended, but "I could prune them such that they'd fit their spaces", but that's because I understand how to do so. Junipers are preeminently prunable plants. It is literally possible to "keep them in bounds" more or less indefinitely. Briefly, what you need is a good hand pruner and likely a good lopping shears or "loppers". What is difficult to describe in writing is the process. So, you're not going for a sheared or formal look. You want the plants to still retain a more or less informal appearance. Each and every stem can be cut back, but always leave the bottom (of the plant, not the stem) a bit wider than the top. That way, sunlight will continue to fall equally on all plant parts, so no overshadowing will occur, which if it did, would tend to cause these shaded parts to thin out and have less foliage. You want it nice and full all the way to the ground. So, many cuts are made. Please note, unlike most conifers, junipers will indeed re-green from cuts made well back into the stem. There may be an ugly duckling stage, where the plant looks stubby and not very green. But in most cases, following decent growing conditions, it will re-green out all over the place.

None of which is to say that this is what "you should do". I have simply answered the question you asked-can they be retained and how. Hopefully, this gives you sufficient info to proceed, one way or another.

just get rid of them ... they were improperly sited... who knew they would grow into the trees they are ...

and if you have any qualms... replace with just as many plants... or more.. mother earth, net profit ...

after that decision is made .. do whatever you want with them ... knowing full well ... they can die anyway ... if you dont like what you end up with ...

in the forest... trees can be left to their own devices ... when improperly planted in suburbia.. most likely feet away from a house ... well.. they have a limited life ...

ken

If I try to re-'shape' them, what time of year would be best to do that? I might try that first before I pull them out, just thinking cost-wise, maybe I can get one or two more years out of them.

For replacing them, any suggestions for something interesting to put in those spots?

really need a pic ... to offer suggestions for replacement ... and to firm up our suggestions ..

ken

I'd do the type of pruning I described above-or tried to describe, lol-sometime during the early to middle of the growing season. That way, the plant will have time to recover before cold, desiccating winds sweep down from Wisconsin, lol, and dry up all the ends. In other words, this is one type of pruning to not do in the usual late-winter/ very early spring pruning window of most items.

If you limb up a hedge - so that you can now see through it - you no longer have a screen.

Comparatively young conifers such as these are not attractive with bare trunks anyway. And many kinds of conifers never are attractive with bare trunks - only certain kinds with bark appearances and crown shapes that lend themselves to this.

When I attempt to prune these Junipers, will it be alright to take about 5-6 feet from the top?

Oh, and if there is a way to get a photo in line with the text I do not know how to do that, I have a photobucket link though.

http://s1318.photobucket.com/user/smarge117/media/IMG_0887_zpstr5s4ku9.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5

Heh, that's certainly well-into the domain of a "heavy pruning". Is it possible? Sure. Will it look rough? Yup. Is it up to you what is considered tolerable here. Another yup.

Like I said earlier, junipers can regenerate new growth well back into older areas of stems. It just isn't going to take place over night. Since you are obviously intending to do this, may as well go at it. Only after having done so will you know what you've got.

I can't see all the pictures you post. You can probably keep some of the junipers, but the one right between the path and house, touching both, probably has to go. Or you could move the path.

As far as pruning them...find a good landscaper. I think the problem with juniper foundation plantings is they are a design choice that assumes you have a landscaper. Very labor intensive. ypu could learn how, but that's taking on a new hobby. M

As far as replacements...what are these trees for? Decoration, or privacy screening? If the former, go for something small and flowering that can regrow from the bottom if you decide to chop the whole thing down and start over...redbud or nine bark or something,. If the latter, I always like American Holly.