I Hate my Hedges

[Bonsai]

When my wife and I bought our house a year ago, very little landscaping had been done. The only real greenery around the house is these thick, ugly hedges. I spend so much time trimming them it takes all the joy out of making my yard look nice. I wouldn’t mind them so much if they didn’t grow so darned fast. Is there any way of thinning them out and trimming them down so that it isn’t a constant battle to keep them neat? I have considered removing them but that, as well, would be a major project and then I would have to replace the area with something else. I’d like to keep my hedges if I can ever get them under control. What is your best solution for a problem such as I have? Should I possibly consult a professional about this problem? Maybe they have a secret they can share with me. I guess that’s why I came here; hoping you will have a solution to the ever growing hedge problem.