You don't say what zone you're in or where you live, but here's what I would do in zone 5. I would put a small interesting tree (redbud, sweetbay magnolia, Heptacodium miconioides) about 10 feet in front of the left corner of the house, connecting it to the house with a bed that would curve in front of the house towards the driveway, echoing the curve of the walk. Stop thinking foundation planting and start thinking anchoring the house to the ground by the planting in the bed.

In the area between the tree and the driveway, think in terms of small shrubs, a mix of evergreen and deciduous, with a goal of multi-season interest-flowers, fall foliage, berries. Take note of where you want slighly taller shrubs, and where very small ones.

To the right of the garage, try a large shrub--a viburnum or Physocarpus 'Diablo' or lilac, though the mildew that Syringa vulgaris inevitably gets is not attractive in a showcased shrub.

BTW, one way to design an area like this is to take your picture, print it out and sketch shapes of plants on tracing paper. The it's simple to find plants that fit the shapes.

I'd deepen the beds considerably. Put a largish evergreen at the left corner. Then a largish open/lacy tree (like a Japanese Maple) out from the house a bit but basically in front of the central area. I'd put hosta and shade perennials in that recessed area. And I'd but several smallish shrubs (azalea, nandina, hydrangea, colored evergreens, etc) in front of the brick. Pick varieties that don't get too big. Fill in the rest of the ground area with groundcover (whatever one behaves in your climate).

And I'd change the color of the garage door to match the house. Right now it's the most obvious thing and it draws your eye to that huge white rectangle.

I'd also make an entry area with some flagstone, almost like a courtyard but not that big. Edge that with Liriope.

I'm home sick with a kid today so I did a mockup of what I mean.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:21114}}

I'm beginning to see why Shag got tired of doing this.

Since I made this mockup, I've heard nothing from the OP...and she's gone on to create two threads repeating this same question.

I guess she didn't like the answers she got.

No biggie...it's a learning experience for me. In many ways.

There should be an Original Poster etiquette and advice page that you HAVE to get through before you can post.

I thought it was a very good mock-up, Ginger. You placed the tree perfectly so it doesn't block the windows but provides a little privacy. I like the purple balls too - assume they're shrubs :-)

Not sure if you're sick or if the child is, but here's wishing for better health for whichever needs it!

okay, I'm sorry
This is the first time I've posted anything on here. I thought my first post didn't work, so I posted again. I clicked the option that emails the responses to you but I never received any emails, and when I came back to this site I didn't see my posting at first because it had made it's way pretty far down the list.

I do appreciate the responses that have already been given. Thank you.

Is there a way I can delete the other thread??

DW

No, one of the irritating things about this particular forums style is that you can't edit a darned thing. All your foibles are up for all the world to see. Luckily, things fall off the board rather quickly. Don't worry about it. Chalk it up to one of those famous learning experiences that we all seem to have.

As you have probably noticed, this is a rather conversational forum and it's expected that there be a lot of back and forth between the posters. That's how problems get hashed out and solutions get figured out. This just hit on a raw nerve around here. There's been a bad habit of "drive-by postings" where someone comes expecting free help, that help is given, and that person is not only ungrateful but often actually rude and nasty. So when you didn't reply, it appeared you were just the latest in this trend. Glad that you're not.

So...what about the advice that you've been given hits your fancy or bothers you? What are your thoughts? What do you like/dislike?

gingerblue,

The mock-up looks pretty good.
What evergreen would you suggest for that left corner? I'm a little scared of things growing too big.

That's actually my biggest concern for all the plantings. With the ranch style house, I don't want anything to grow too big and look out of scale.

thnks
DW

Plants don't come with a predetermined stop point in their growth. Left unpruned, anything will eventually grow too big.

A lesson I have learned late in my gardening adventure is that "it is your right to prune." I have begun observing other peoples' landscaping quite closely (am a bit of a road hazard because of it!) and notice that many people have shrubs that never actually change in size. This is, I have come to believe, because they get out there quite often and trim the things. I've never caught them at it but I firmly believe it.

Meanwhile I have been ducking and weaving my way through my yard "because this big shrub has grown across this path." I'm also awfully soft hearted about a nice branch or a sprig of flowers or new leaves.... "awww, it looks so pretty and it's worked so hard to put out this flower!" Honestly, this is how I sound in the garden. And as if that weren't stupid enough, I lament that my yard looks overgrown while others look so nice and controlled. Someone on another forum tagged their posting with the line "if you can't be a good example, be a horrible warning" and you can feel free to use me as a warning: Plants need only grow as big as you want them to. Obviously you don't want to buy things that are guaranteed to grow totally out of scale (the size given on the tag is usually a 10-year size), but hold the thought that you, not the plant, are in charge.

This mockup shows a couple or three small ornamental trees off the sides of the house if there is enough space. You should be able to find something that will fit even a small space. Rounded evergreens at the corners and and middle don't empasize the vertical lines at the ends of the house the way something more vertical or pyramidal would. A horizontal silvery blue foliage Juniper, some Dwarf Deutzia for a drooping shape and early summer flowers, and several large clumps of one or maybe two perennials for intermittent seasonal color. The tallest plants are at the far left and right, in general, with shorter ones nearer the door. Nothing steals the show from the house and front entry, or blocks the windows.

This was a five minute design, so I didn't spend any time on plant selection, I only selected for form and repetition.

{{gwi:21115}}

Not even my house but I like that one saypoint!

I would also consider painting the garage door the same color as the siding, or a tiny bit darker, so it doesn't grab your attention as much.

saypoint,

I really like the mockup you did.
What would the yellow be?

What do you like best for the round evergreens? (yew, boxwood, or arborvitae)

Thanks, it looks great!

Both of the mockups look very nice. I agree with Saypoint, that your garage door should be painted the same color as the house. We recently repainted and did this, and it really made the emphasis be the front door rather than the garage door.

I read on one of the other threads that boxwoods can give off a foul odor.

Has anyone found this to be true?

English box has an odor. English box isn't hardy in zone 5. The Korean hybrids are scentless to me. They can be hardy in zone 5 given proper siting. They are not hardy enough to plonk down anywhere, but require winter shade and protection from winter winds.

Arborvitae will probably get too big too fast.

many people love the smell of english boxwood. find some on a nice spring day and decide for yourself - its one of those "season to taste" kinds of things.

The yellow things are clumps of daylilies that my software had in the library, but you can use whatever you like. Keep in mind that most perennials have a fairly short bloom season, so you will only be relying on them for seasonal bursts of color.

You don't give any information about how much sun the area gets, or what the condition of the soil is, so it's hard to recommend a specific plant.

The Perennials forum is a good source of suggestions for plants. I'd limit the number of different kinds to two or three, and be sure to plant them in groups, not singly. Repeat each group in several places, more or less evenly distributed across the whole planting area, to visually connect the different parts and keep it from looking spotty, but not symmetrically. In other words, two smallish clumps on one side can be balance by one larger clump on the other. If you choose plants that bloom at different times, you'll have something going on most of the time.

Add some spring bulbs for early color, maybe daffodils positioned so the fading foliage is hidden by emerging perennial foliage, or crocus or snowdrops near the door.

Keep the annuals in back yard, unless you want to add a container of them at the entry to add a bright spot and emphasize the door.

If plant selection makes you nuts, a good local nursery should be able to direct you to plants with the characteristics you're seeking, such as low-growing horizontal evergreens, or rounded shrub that gets 6 feet tall, etc. They'll know your local growing conditions, too.

English Boxwood does have an aroma, some love it, some hate it. When I lived in NC a few years ago, there was boxwood around the front door, and not being familiar with it, I though neighborhood cats were anointing my doorstep.

I grow it where I live now, but not next to the door.

Not my house either but that is WONDERFUL saypoint.
great mockup.

Great, the garage door color issue has come up!
My house is red brick on the first floor and siding on the second (the original white aluminum now, but I want to change that too). Giant white garage door. Should I paint it red like the brick?
Thanks,
Bob
p.s. I have had trouble with the emailed responses, too.

Sal, it's generally best to start a new thread when you have a new question - if the emailed responses get delivered as they should, you don't want to flood the original poster with answers to your question. Plus, people who have decided they aren't interested in this thread aren't looking, but might look at a new thread.

karinl,
I have played this scene over and over again each time I need to quickly press hard on the breaks.

"Yes Officer, I am sorry officer, Yes, I realize it is not safe to stand with my upper body out of the sky light toes on the steering wheel, camera in my left hand, and note pad addressed with questions/advise to resident. But you seeÂI am a gardener!" Katy

Do see this thread: "Please critique my landscape and help re-design!"

Laag has demonstrated the amazing change when the white garage door is painted a better color.