Pruning Conifers?

My mum has conifers in her front garden, and they don't seem to be establishing very well, are there any tips you can give me, where and how often you should prune them for them to fill out? Thanks for any advice given.....

 

Take it no one wants to help then!

 

Don't know alot about conifers, sorry, but here goes- a lot of them are slow growing, and will not need pruning unless they start overspilling their allotted space. Some don't like pruning, and it is best to prune underneath rather than from top. Make sure they have a good compost and enough water. If they dry out they won't thrive; they may simply be too young to have produced much growth. How long have they been planted, and what varieties?