Since these are yews yes they will green up where the light was let in and they are now brown and bare - you can even cut yews down to stumps and they will re-sprout. You won't, however, be able to restore the sheared hedge effect anytime at all soon without buying a comparably sized replacement and re-filling the new hole with that.

So the sheared hedge won't grow back or it will just take a while for it to grow in?

Also the stump you see there, I believe that was a yew as well just in a tree form, so that could sprout back as well?

Pic not clear but that looks like boxwood to me.

If your door is right there probably you need to take the whole arrangement out and start over with a different entry that will work better for you.

Those are definitely yews (Taxus species) and if the stump also belonged to a yew, then yes, it could resprout. One if the very few conifers I can think of that will respond in this manner. But Embothrium's last comment makes a good deal of sense - a formal hedge of that size is generally not a great idea for an entry. It tends to lack or counteract any curb appeal and also tends to be an unwelcoming barrier to visitors. Plus it requires frequent attention to maintain that sheared, formal hedge look. Something smaller in scale and in a looser, more natural arrangement would be far more inviting.

Well, we just moved in and weren't looking to spend to much on this just yet. Here's where we're at now. At this point if I can get these to grow back and maybe something else can be planted near there? Also if possible I'd like to save the hedge in front of the window.

Before

where are you ... how long is winter ... the dormancy period ....

it matters how fast it will grow back ...both answers above are from the PNW .. where their idea of winter .. is a warm spring day .. lol ... [not bossy]

but do make a 3 or 5 year plan.. to get rid of it all ...my best guess.. the first owner planted them there .. the summer they moved in ... they are way past their prime .... they can continue as they are.. but there isnt .. IMHO ... that you will be able to change it all ...

congrats on the new house ... i know you have priorities ...

btw.. next time ask first ... you should have left some trunk.. to dig out the roots .... which you are going to have to do to plant something else there anyway ...

we're here for you ... if you wish... ken

We're in The metro Detroit area. Beginning to think we should have had a better plan before cutting the one out. Didn't realize the state of the other yews around it. any thoughts on a temporary set up until next spring?

Where we are actually has no bearing on the matter - I was talking about the yews growing back however long it took, something that would not have been overnight here in the P. N. W. either. We have frosty winters during which yews do not grow, same as the rest of northern North America. In fact, our stormiest month is November and our coldest December - many, if not most northern adapted woody plants have by now quit growing for the year here.

OP is pretty much left at this point with looking at bare stems all winter and probably for some years afterward also, as the shrubs gradually respond, or taking them out and starting over with a new planting or other scheme.

None of the existing shrubs (except possibly the one at the corner of the garage) enhance the look of the house--all too big for the house.

The two round ones in front of the porch are the main issue right now. With the back of the one on the left having the exposed dead on it. Would I be able to prune those around the sides exposing the branches and perhaps leave the tops alone? Not looking to tackle removal now either, I hear those are tough to get out. I may just put some lattice next to the hedge for the time being to. Thanks for the input so far all.

I would remove them, I just really hate yews. If you must keep them I would google rejuvenation pruning. You will find lots of informative articles on how to perform rejuvenation pruning, I just don't want to type one myself.

That's great advice wisconsitom, we're leaning towards cutting them out and one concern was how hard it would be to get to the roots. If that's the case we can do that and for now we're leaning towards putting some large barrel planters in those two spots and adding some lattice around the bare hedge spot. Again just trying to avoid a total eye soar for now and perhaps tackle the rest in the spring.

"one option short of pulling out by the roots is to simply saw them off
right at ground level. The stumps will eventually rot, and it's not at
all out of the question that certain types of new plantings could be
started long before all that decomposition has finished up."

Tom, when dealing with yews, I'm not sure this is the best advice :-) Yews are one of the few conifers that will resprout from just a stump. In fact, I've seen very large and well-established yews respond by this attempted 'removal' by pushing out a lot of new growth from the just an inch or two remains of the original trunk.

If the yews are entirely unwanted and the intent is to replace with something else, then removal of the root system is necessary.

Yes.

When dealing with yews, that is great advice. I would REALLY recommend removing them. Maybe add a nandina 'firepower' where the small one is, then a hedge of american holly or red camellia to replace the rest.

I also vote for removal and replacement with something dwarf/short that you wont have to prune or prune very little.

"Maybe add a nandina 'firepower' where the small one is, then a hedge of american holly or red camellia to replace the rest."

None of those shrubs is likely to survive a Detroit area winter.