I'd agree with @steephill. Remove anything dead, and cut back those ones with growth at the base, to just above the new growth. Keep them well watered, and they should come away no bother.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I think they've got seriously dehydrated over the past year or two. They take up huge amounts of water, and it's maybe been a bridge too far for them, with the previous dry summers. Being in quite a narrow border and with the wall there, it's a strong possibility. They occasionally succumb to a bit of disease, but I can't tell if that's what's happened to your dead ones. I'd take those dead ones out, and have a look at the roots to see if there's a problem there.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thanks you all for your suggestions. Really appreciate it. Fairy girl you are absolutely right. The previous owner had to leave on an emergency and no one watered these poor little things through the dry summer of 2018 for about 9 months or so.
They also do have some sort of fungal which appeared last year (whitish powder under the leaves). I applied antifungal last year liberally and they are so much better now. But still have half the leaves with the white powder
One question I had was if I remove had was if I remove one of the dried ones in the row, I would want to replace that with one at the end of the row. These are 7 feet tall by now and I can imagine the roots would be huge too. Don’t think I will be able to remove the full root system. So is it ok to cut the roots at some point. Will the plant survive that torture or no way.
Plant anyway needs to be removed next year if not now due to a planned construction!
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I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
any ideas at all?
They occasionally succumb to a bit of disease, but I can't tell if that's what's happened to your dead ones. I'd take those dead ones out, and have a look at the roots to see if there's a problem there.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you!