You can give these conifers a light trim providing you dont go into the old wood as it will not regain any foliage there. Try taking the leader out to as this will produce side growth and remember to feed after you have trimmed it lightly.

usually grows at the bottom first before going upwards, it should keep its shape ok by itself, has a lovely lemon smell too.

I had five of these and never touched them till they just got too big. If you cut out the leader they will never grow in a pointed shape again but will go straight up I did this and regretted it. But something does not look right to me about the top and bottom? Where they a better shape when you bought them or as I suspect had they been cut after damage? Sorry but if you want the shape it should be I think you may have to get another?

Thankyou Ellwood and Steve, I think I might just give them a very light trim.
Thanks Drc, I think they were a good shape when I bought them. They have grown a few inches but obviously from the top. I thought if you cut the leader of a plant/tree it went outwards not upwards but I have a lot to learn. I don't think I'll give up on them just yet but if I do it''ll be Cordylines for those pots instead.

Yes I didnt put it well? You start with a bush with shaped sides ending in a point at the top like a cone which looks good. Once you cut the middle out you end up with a straight flat topped bush or more than one pointed top and lopsided which can look odd on its own. Thats why we got rid of ours after 7 years and started again and have left these alone.

Ah thanks Drc! That's how I understood it to work. I won't cut out the leader but I'll give them a very light trim at the sides, in the hope that the upper half thickens up a bit. I can see how it's not going to be easy to get the nice conical shape but I can't bring myself to give up just yet as I only planted them in May this year.

If you look at the pics below Balcony has one that shows the correct shape? Why dont you ask Bluespruce - send him a PM? He may be able to help you.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Drc. I looked up Bluespruce and had a look at his website.
Oh My! What a beautiful garden.
Meanwhile I happened to notice "related questions" on the right of this page and lo and behold someone had asked a similar question and Bluespruce had answered. I believe my trees are 'goldcrest wilma'. which are narrower than goldcrest.

Glad you found some help Elless