I doubt it's privet, Kermit. You can't kill that stuff with a stick. First house? How close are they to the driveway? Could be root rot from water off the driveway. Go to a nursery and identify your plant.Then call your extension agent,a free service paid for with your tax dollars.

It may not be privit. All the knowledge I have of these things you can place on the head of a pin. But I am confident I can kill any plant known to Man with hardly any effort at all. This is a new house for me. The previous owner planted the hedges less than one foot from a concrete driveway with is on an incline leading from the garage which, until recently, had no gutters to control the water run-off. So perhaps it is indeed root rot. I will take a sample to a nursery for an ID, as you suggested. If it is indeed root rot, is there any cure or must they be replaced? How far should the plants be placed from the driveway? Do you know of an attactive, hardy plant that would make a good hedge?