From northeastern Texas....

Once upon a time they were carefully trimmed shrubs or hedges around this
house before I bought it. But the house sat empty with little attention for
a couple of years. Now they are trying to take over the yard, and I need to
research ways to get rid of most of them.

Can anyone tell me what kind of growth this is:

http://pages.suddenlink.net/ken/brush.jpg

Some have little buds, other don't. Otherwise they seem to be the same.