I like bushes. But it is time for them to go.

It looks like they were planted too close to the house to begin with and it would be tough to sqeeze a fence in between. Unfortunately, they're not the prettiest, so I'd be tempted to start over with something fast growing.

Will the deck be the same size and footprint? Personally I would take a living wall of shrubs any day over a fence. If you are definitely putting up a fence, then I think you have to remove these and start again just because of spacing issues (it will be difficult to fit a fence there if the new deck is in the same spot. If you are not putting up a fence I would prune the shrubs and leave them, unless you have something specific you really want. Just remember it will take time for most things to get that large. I would research some ideas first and see if you like anything fast-growing before removing the current shrubs.

:)
Dee

One of the hardest things I often have to do as a garden designer is convince clients not to keep plants that have outlived their purpose or looks. Just because a plant is alive and appears to be doing well is not sufficient justification to keep it if you don't like it or it is in the wrong place.

I think a well-done privacy wall (not a fence!!) would enhance the new deck far better than those scratchy monsters. And then focus any new plantings out in the area that will be the primary view from the deck.

This is exactly the kind of thing we are planning (the bottom one specifically).

ideas:

The big blue ones are Rocky Mountain junipers, Rocky Mountain juniper is a tree - that is why they have become too big for that small space.

Just get rid of those dang shrubs! ;-)

You can make a much prettier privacy border there!

You also have two well grown Dwarf Alberta Spruce at either end. Here they are very cheap and don't last long. Just water, dig everything up, either reuse somewhere else, give away, or toss. Nothing is worth much and it needs to be moved to do the deck and fence/privacy wall.

i wouldnt even waste the time to use them somewhere else.. they are past there prime... and general PIAs ...trust me on this.. its all downhill for them ... juniper tip blight.. juniper rust.. mites on the DAS ... crikey ... see above re: pia ... lol ..

the only use for them.. is if you happen to have a very large fire pit ... and neighbors who might enjoy the whoomph... when they go up .. lol ...

and for a nickle.. i will tell you how i really feel about them ...

and if that lawn to the left is yours.. plant a nice tree out there.. instead of relying on the edge of the deck for privacy .. a nice redbud out there.. will work just fine ... maybe even add shade to the deck in 5 or 10 years .... i would go out at least 10 to 15 feet if you can ...

and the tree will easily offset the loss of the other two in regard to mother earth balance ....

ken

My vote going for "... just get rid of those dang shrubs and start fresh ..."