Front garden shrubs getting too big

kristine015

hi all, 
Just looking for opinions and suggestions. 
I feel like my front gardens shrubs getting too big and out of hand. I am not expert at cutting/pruning and just left my shrubs to grow.
My hubby likes them there for privacy but I want to either
- remove the shrubs and replace with Arbours. And plant climbing roses & climatis to go around the Arbours. 
Or 
- learn how to cut back the shrubs place the arbour by the fence facing the house and plant roses and climatis around it. 

I’ll post a pic of my front garden showing my shrubs and my fence. And the Arbours I got which will be delivered on Wednesday. 
What you think 💭 guys? Would really appreciate ideas and suggestions. 
Thanks in advance. 

Ps. I don’t know any of the names of all the shrubs  

Obelixx

They don't look too big to me but we need a close up of the leaves to be able to give a name.

Joyce21

The shrubs are giving colour and structure all year which you won't get with clematis and roses on an arbour.

a1154

I like the shrubs. Not sure why you want a seat in your front garden next to the road. Do you not have a back garden? Sorry if I have misunderstood.

hogweed

How many arbours have you ordered?

kristine015

Hi all thanks for the reply. 

Obelixx - will try get a closer photos and might actually make an ID shrub thread as I have a few ones I wanna ID. 

Joyce - thats a really good point! Might just keep them there. ^_^ thanks for the advice. 

a1154 - I just thought it would be nice to have Arbours at the front. Also kids like to play at the front during summer time. My kids are young and thought sitting on this while they play would be nice. 

Hogweed - I ordered 2 arbours. 1 for the front and 1 for the back. ^_^ 

kristine015

Kids playing area 

kristine015

AuntyRach

The pale ones with long leaves are some type of Phormiums (they can grow large and are difficult to prune because each long leaf must be cut off to trim back). The low mounds, encroaching onto drive, are probably a type of Hebe. They spread outwards as yours show. You can trim those back, but you may end up seeing the brown woody stuff which is currently hidden by the green (I have same problem with Hebes which have crept onto my patio). I can see Heathers (nice) but not sure what the taller branches are yet. I think the border looks good.
You may wish to consider where the sun will be before placing the arbour as you may (or may not) rather face that way. If you go with the climbing plants, you could consider having them in big pots but be mindful of how tricky it will be to mow the grass with these on it. 
I hope it all works out. 

kristine015

Hi AuntyRach thank you so much for the advice and suggestions and also for IDying some of the shrubs. I did look 👀 in behind the green leaves and there were so many long brown branches.. if I cut back will they grow back again and how long will it take? Sorry for so many questions. 
The tall branches have some sort of red berries on in during the summer. 

Borderline

Kristine015, The first picture looks like Erica Carnea. The last picture looks like a type of Rhododendron. The 'tall shrub' with berries, will have to see the leaves a bit formed and more of the growth habit, very difficult to know right now.

Hebe shrubs are best pruned lightly. Try to avoid cutting too deep into the brown woody sections, they can take 4-6 months to grow back if cut too far in. If pruned lightly after flowering in mid to late summer, they grow back reasonably fast. The ones you have do grow wide rather than tall. Very useful low growing shrubs to have amongst perennials, in my opinion. I don't think any of your shrubs have grown big.