Will severely pruned arborvitae ever regrow?

Last summer I had a landscaping person prune my arborvitae. They had become too large for the location (builder planted 10 ft plants in a 3 ft space and I had let them go "natural" because I dislike the formal garden look, not realizing they would get so large.) The landscaper use hedge trimmers and cut them back so far that on the sides there is NO greenery. In my ignorance, I accepted the assurance that the plants would grow back. It's been almost a year and, while the places that were already green (like the top) have new growth, the sides are still bare wood.

Can anyone tell me if it's futile to wait for these to grow back and if I should just chop them out and plant new?
See picture of most offensive of the bunch (there are 6 in total)--it looks like a "flat top haircut"!

Thanks

Unfortunately with arborvitae when you cut back into the brown part it generally won't put out new growth from there, only parts with green left will continue to grow. Or at least that's what happens with the species that we have out here--let someone from your area confirm before you rip them out since it may be a different species that's used there. But I have a feeling it's not going to come back.

I cannot stress this enough people - CHECK THE REFERENCES OF "JOE BLOW LANDSCAPING" BEFORE YOU LET THEM LOOSE IN YOUR YARD!!!

A couple of summers ago I ended up working with a "landscaping company" that offered it all. Problem was not a single member of the company had any formal training at all concerning ...well anything. He would go out and just hack on things then ask top dollar for his "work". Two years later I occasionally pass a job we did that summer and just shake my head, knowing what happened there. I mean this guy was just about the money. He wouldn't even do a simple soil test before approaching a yard. Instead he preferred the "charge them 5x the price for a bag of 10-10-10 and let it go" approach. Needless to say, I no longer work for this charlatan.

In conclusion, just because they have a shiny pick-up and a lettered trailer and can stripe your yard with a zero turn mower doesn't mean they have ANY idea about actual plants, bushes or trees.

edit: Yeah - what's gone probably won't grow back. You could just cut it to the ground and let it start all over, but then you'll have to pick a shoot to favor and keep the others cut back to allow the chosen one dominance. and honestly it's gonna be a loooong wait. Plus it'll be weak at the base. Best bet is to dig it out and replace. If you have a space where you can plant the old plant do so and see what happens. It is a living creature and if you can give it a small space to live out it's years, which are limited at best, think of the good karma points you'll earn!

This message was edited Apr 25, 2010 12:04 PM