A tree might be a good addition. When I look at the picture the first two things that came to my mind is that the plantings are thin and that that plantings are not coherent. The thin aspect might be because it is early in the season or because many of the plants are young. I am not sure that "coherent" is the term that I am looking for but there seems to be a bit too much one of this and one of that. I would be afraid that adding in a purple leafed tree would add to this problem.

The P Allen Smith link below labels these principles "Texture, Pattern and Rhythm" and "Abundance".

In general I like foundation plantings and I like foundation planting to have evergreen plantings as the backdrop/core. If you don't want to go with evergreen shrubs, then I would suggest masses of perennials with substance. I am thinking groups of 10 or more workhorse plants such as coneflower, rudbeckia, daylilies, and sedum. I am also a sucker for ornamental grasses. (I don't know what plants you like or that do well in your area)

- Brent

Here is a link that might be useful: P Allen Smith's 12 Principles of Design

It's called "Unity" and one of the ways to achieve it is through Repetition, which means using plants in multiples and repeating them in more than one place in the landscape. The effect is one of abundance, but it's more about making the landscape look like its a whole composition, not just a lot of small parts that are unrelated.

It would look better if the beds were twice as deep as they are now, even more would be better. If the cost of plants in quantity is an issue, many shrubs can be propagated from stem cuttings or divisions in the case of suckering plants. You can buy one and make some more, or beg cuttings from friends and neighbors who have plants you crave. Google "propagating shrubs" for instructions on taking hardwood and softwood cuttings.

Perennials in masses is a simpler problem. Dividing and pampering the divisions can increase your stock of plants fairly rapidly.

As far as tree selection, more information about your soil conditions, and a post to the trees forum will get you some suggestions.

As for "anchoring" or grounding the house to the site. I don't think a tree off the corner will help. Because your home is so small, the necessary 10 feet off the corner that is required for a tree, will put the tree out of the visual field of your house. Instead, it seems like a rounded, large mass, like a mature rhodie, planted 5 or so feet off the corner, allowed to grow into it's size, will ground things more effectively,. You could put a tree in the front left yard and when grown (and growing)it will look nice from the street, and from inside, and give balance to the house.

Also, I totally agree with the repetition thing. All the reading I did before I came to these forums did not stress the importance of that enough. I was one of those folks that thought of shrubs as "specimens", highlighting each one. One of this, one of that, and so on. Only after reading threads at this forum did I understand that this creates a disjointed feeling...like looking at many pictures in a gallery...rather than creating a cohesive whole, like one large painting.

I have read folks here mention repeating shrubs, grouping plants/shrubs, or using a ground cover across a wide expanse of different shrubs to create a sense of unity.

More time than money is actually a good thing, in a sense. It will allow you to live with each decision before moving on to the next. It will give you time to really consider how things look in each season and in all moods.

With time, you can create many little drawings and hound nurseries for fun looking for interesting plants and combinations. You can pour over books and magazines and make endless lists. You can spend (waste) hours at Garden Web while the laundry piles up. It could be the road to addiction, but, ahhh, such a beautiful addiction.

Patty

"Ahh, such a beautiful addiction" -- I can stop this habit at any time...really I can.

Hey, thanks to each of you - I had never considered most of what you said about repetition, etc. I even got some landscape design books at the library to help me understand the basics.

Don't really know how to pull it all together (unify) a burning bush, colorado dwarf blue spruce, a spirea, a manzanita and a crimson pigmy barberry in this small space (all which currently exist). Should I take one or more of them out? Or buy more of the same and move things around so they're planted in groups?

Right now I'm chomping at the bit to fire up a rototiller and dig up more lawn along the left side. But this is a battle I fight every year with my husband; I want more garden, he wants more lawn. We live in a drought-prone climate for crying out loud...of course it's more responsible to not waste all that water on Kentucky Blue Grass, right? Maybe what I need next is some advice for how to handle this with my husband! Is there a forum to mediate gardening disputes between spouses? :)

I like the plum off of the northwest corner.

Laag, Would you please explain to us why that would work, in your opinion?

Normally I like a tree off the corner (have one myself...NW corner as a matter of coincidence), but somehow it didn't seem right here. What are you seeing?
Thanks
Patty

Sure...if I said "I like the plum" nobody would notice, but when Andrew (laag) says it we all perk our ears. Is he serious or just starting off is Friday with a couple Bloody Marys? ;-)

Keep in mind that you are creating this planting for you. You sounded like you were fairly happy with this bed, so if that is the case don't feel like you have to start from scratch to please us or to match something said in a book.

Yea, "unity" is more the word that I was looking for. It can actually be a bit of a tricky thing to pull off, especially since variety (texture, form, size) is just as important. One thing that I have learned (mostly from this forum) is that unity can come from many sources, not just from repeating plants. In this bed for example, trimming the grass so that the rock border was more visible and spreading a uniform color of mulch would start to unify the planting. You could even pick up a flat or two of the same annual and spread them throughout your bed. I would also suggest treating the beds on the right and left of your walk as one continuous bed.

I like to think that unity is like cologne/perfume. If people consciously notice it then you have too much. It should be a subtle quality, not something that stands out.

- Brent

It looks like a view that I don't want to see back there. The right front of the house is advancing and the left side just seems to fall off. Adding visual weight to the left might make the part of the house that is forward seem more centered.

It is not THE way to handle it, but I think the if the OP has this "instinct", I'll support it for the reasons above.

I have to get some more celery.

Call me the princess of possibilities...but what about a line of 3-4 purple leaf sand cherries along the fencline on the left, and an dwarf evergreen off the NW corner? I'm thinking a colorado blue spruce dwarf, to tie in with the globe blue spruce that's already there.

I would plant a tall blue or green evergreen tree (emerald arb or heitzi juniper )(SP?) in both the corner at the right of the window and at the nw corner of the house left of window. I would do this because the part of the house near the drive sticks out farther than that part of the house and it would make it less noticeable. I agree that the bed needs a bit of repetition and alot more plants, and some layers. I would put in some gold colors (maybe a gold thread chamaecyparis (spelling again?) along with some darker green, evergreen shrubs. Then I would plant some showy perennials in groupings in front.

I also think that since you have the pine on a stick at the left of the front window, you need something to balance it out on the other side of the window as well... Another one just like it would do the trick.

Do you have some sort of a defined edge there? Either with stones or edging? Some mulch would neaten it up a bit as well.

I like either the Newport Plum or a Fat Albert Colorado Blue Spruce. I've been considering these trees. I actually just planted the Newport Plum in my backyard and I'm considering the Fat Albert for the front.

Hi!

When I looked at your picture it was color I was thinking about. I would like plum-colored vegetation with your house, but not with that trim color (carmel?). Right now the house color and trim color are sort of the same family, but the roof is cool. I think you should consider changing all those carmel areas to charcoal. I'd experiment with charcoal paint chips and even some very neutral plum or burgundy shades. Not intense or bright shades, of course. Just hints at those colors. Possibly some metal window boxes in charcoal. Designers are great at knowing just what style, but I'm not sure what they'd put with this. But I bet the right style would be really nice.

If you need to repeat something, what about the darkest red/black barberry if those are hardy in your zone.

Then I think dark red/black foliage will look right at home in your yard.

I have nothing constructive to add other than my DH was much happier about me expanding flowerbeds when I told him he could get a zero turn radius lawnmower. This is, however, after he gets all the other toys he feels he must. He is positively giddy with the thought of even more things to mow around now.

I'm not a designer, but I think the porch post on the right provides such a vertical element, the house is crying for another vertical element on the left side. You could possibly achieve the same balance with a trellis & a rose or other vine, without having your DH fuss about taking up more of the grass :-) However, trees add cooling, birds and oxygen, so I personally would probably go with a tree.

However, I do agree with whoever said the beds need to be deeper with some more varying heights and textures. Also some of the plants need to be repeated to give some unity. I don't think I would remove anything since it looks like you favor a cottage type garden - just repeat some of your more favorite plants a couple of more times.

Since you're like me (with more time than money) - you should be able to divide some of your perennials in a year or two. Also, if there are any swaps in your area, they are a great place to add to your collection!

I didn't read the whole thread so if I repeat something sorry, I just want to get mt ideas down before I forget. I would move the globe blue spruce to the NW corner plant a spiral topiary or some other upright topiary on either side of the front window, do a couple of low growing shrubs or keep them trimmed to below the front window, basically frame your front window and move your iris behind the shrub in front of your hose holder. You could still do something infront of the fence line. I think this would really complement the house.

Brat

Lot's of things happen in a year! I don't have an up to date photo, but I did adapt some of the advice I received here. I'll try to post an updated photo asap. Stay tuned!

Below is an updated photo. In some ways it looks like we havenÂt come that far in a yearÂso depressing!
Anyhow, I did move the globe blue spruce to the NW corner, and planted an Emerald Green Arborvitae tucked behind it. There is now a line of purple leaf sand cherries along the fenceline (mostly out of view), along with some of my favorite perennials.

IÂm not as happy with the front, middle. It still looks messy to me, partly because itÂs unfinished and I still canÂt decide what to do. The roses to the right of the window came up from the rootstock and IÂm just not happy with them any longer, so I think IÂll yank them out. HereÂs what IÂm considering: planting honeysuckle to the right and left of the front window (for balance), and putting some low growing shrubs in front of the windows. (Or even keeping the goldmound spireas that are in there now). (This is a loose adaptation to BratÂs suggestion  thanks!). The tall things right in front of the window are coneflowers that I think IÂll let bloom this season, then move in the fall.

As far widening the space, I donÂt want to fight that spousal battle. Frustrating, because IÂm coming to realize that such a narrow space has made this really difficult to carry out. There might be a chance of pulling up some grass along the front walk on each side to about 10 feet out from the house, and therefore connecting the right and left even more.

So what do you think of the new house color? Love it or hate it!

I do have plans for a tree in the front yard, to balance out the one that currently exists, and to be visible from inside the house. Thanks for all the input so far!
Mary

Here is a link that might be useful:

Wow, I love the color. I love the blues, pinks, and yellows you see houses painted. There are a lot of those colors here in Florida.

Brat

Wow! What a difference house color makes! I LOVE the blue. Suddenly you have a sweet little cottage on your hands. Good job.

I like your arrangement in the NW corner now.

Understand your issue with your husband--mine has now begun pleading with me to leave the lawn we have alone (no longer have front lawn at all--but, then, when we had a front lawn, we really didn't due to shade)--but I have a suggestion for how you might want to approach him, as the bed really could use more depth...

Some people have different visual abilities than others, so part of the issue may be that he doesn't understand what you are trying to achieve...you might try mocking up a photo of the house with an extended bed in front and showing him the "before" and "after". After all, you are really only talking about a few less feet of grass. If there are other, similar homes near you with a wider foundation beds, you might also point them out to him, or some combination of these two suggestions.