"I bought the molds to make my own stones .... I am just not sure if this style will go with the house." I think I know what you're talking about ... the plastic mold-making forms from big box stores. It would not excite me for a front walkway, but suit yourself. Another source of low-cost materials (brick, etc.) is craigslist if you live in an area where it's used, though it may take some time to find what you want. Here are some quick ideas. I'm sure they would need refinement. The numbers correspond with the following notes: 1. Figure out the ultimate conclusion of the tree now so you can help it grow into the proper shape. If it's going to have a raised canopy (I suggest at least 8' so that it well clears the heads of adults) then there's no reason to let limbs and branches below 50% of the total tree height remain. Doing so allows the tree to waste energy producing foliage & wood you don't want long term. Besides that, the low branches are generally in the way. If you prune before the spring flush of growth, the tree will grow back much of what you cut off but at a higher, more desirable elevation. 2. Is a bulky shrub placed in line with just behind the front face of the house. It helps block the low elevation view into the neighbor's back yard. Could be 4' to 8' ht ... whatever suits. 3. Low mounding shrubs or perennials at ea. side of steps help them look fitted in. 4. 4' ht. shrub at corner for helping the porch look fitted in. 5. Groundcover. Bringing it forward helps funnel visual focus toward the entrance. 6. Shrubs or perennials at the base of the tree strengthens its connection to ground and insulates the front view a little more from the back yard area. Not showing you all possibilities, just the basics--bed line & massing--of this view. It's loose. It's rough. You can refine it with details.

Rosie, I find it best to be direct online. I like porches, I just think they serve a different purpose than a deck. Nic, I think you need to step back and start thinking about functions for your overall landscape before you start thinking about design elements and style. Ultimately the purpose of your landscape is to be useful to you and your family. Draw a scaled top view of your property, including house, driveway, walkways, streets, boundaries, etc and figure out where you want things to be. I like having public and private areas. There are some properties I pass by that are right next to public parks. All of them have some sort of fence around them. Usually a 6' tall privacy fence. I can only imagine that they want a clear demarcation so random people don't wander onto their property and grabbing a beer from their cooler thinking the private family barbecue is a park function :) I think there can also be liability issues. If someone happens to come onto your property and gets hurt you can get hit with lots of bills. Even if they thought they were still in the park. Did you hear the phone ringing while you were edging your lawn and ran inside to get it and someone came along thinking your weed whacker would be fun to play with? There's some big event going on in the park and they ran out of parking? No problem, there's plenty of space on your front lawn. :) I would also put a fence to help turn part of the front lawn (usually public) into private space. If it's a 3-4' high fence I might also add some hedges along with it. It's not just to differentiate spaces but I assume past your front lawn is a street and I think a fence has a lot of safety benefits. If you have kids playing that close to the street you want some privacy for them and some peace of mind for yourself knowing they won't be running into the street by mistake. This wasn't meant to sound morbid. I don't know what's behind that window on the right. If it's a bedroom it also helps give it more privacy from the street if there are fences/shrubs. I take it you're making the changes to the front of the house because you want to give it more visual interest so it's not one flat white wall. I think that's a good idea but I also think it's important to add more bulk and dimension through the landscaping. (Or maybe even consider bumping out a wall? But this is a landscape forum.) That's why I liked the perpendicular beds and the courtyard. It helps give your home some more shape. I threw together some more quick mock-ups of what I would do if I were in your shoes. I had to make some assumptions on dimensions. Again this is more to demonstrate ideas. You need to figure out where to put things based on how you live your life. I like a big bulky entry because it ads dimension to your house. An awning over the entry will come in handy when you're fumbling for your keys in the rain or when people visit. You can put a little seating area to hang out. It's a good spot for visitors to wait if they get there before you. I liked the look of the rectangular hedges in the rectangular planters but I think that throwing in some round shapes like lavender and ornamental grasses will work too. Don't know what grows in your area. The japanese maple helps provide some cover for the picture window. Helps prevent headlights shining in depending on neighbor's driveways and street configuration plus you don't have to worry about people driving by catching you walking to grab a glass of water late at night in your underwear. When I'm in my home I like to have some privacy but at the same time be able to keep window treatments open to enjoy the scenery. In the overview shot you get a better sense of how the front yard becomes your "backyard". If you want to have access to the park you might want to put a gate somewhere if that's appropriate. There's a wrap around deck. I'm hoping your kitchen or dining room is somewhere near the north west corner and you can have access to the deck that way. You can put your patio table on the north side if there's room so you don't have the problems with the sunlight. If you have kids try to put their play area someplace where you can see it from inside. First thing's first though. Draw out a plan of your property on graph paper or something like Google Sketchup (that's what I used for these) and start figuring out where things should go before trying to figure out how they should look. upload picture anonymous picture upload

Be very careful with knockout roses. They are NOT low maintenance. They are the #1 shrub we remove for home owners. They will get up to 6' tall and once they are overgrown the bottom roots will look bare. Your best bet it to find an evergreen shrub you like and use it as the foundation plant that will grow to a height you are happy with. If you want roses then consider the Oso easy (3'x3' max height), Drift roses (2'x2' max height) or the home run roses (3'x3'). Can you show us a photo of the area you are wanted to landscape? Also do you know what zone you are in (what state do you live in)? What kind of sun does the area get morning/afternoon, full sun/part/shade?

Both Oakleaf hydrangea and Bottlebrush buckeye can handle sun and shade, though they may need more water in sunnier conditions (and especially the year you plant them, when they are getting their roots established.) You are correct that the oak will cast some shade when mature, but that will be years down the road, so you could definitely get started with some fruits and veggies now, and worry about shade later. I'm also in 7b, and I've had luck this year growing strawberries and figs, and understand that blackberries/raspberries also do well in this zone. Blueberries can be tricky because they love cold winters. Another native shrub,American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), LOVES sun and grows tons of magnificent magenta berries. The birds will love them in the fall, and/or you can pick them to make jelly (they are a bit bland right off the bush). (By the way, I made some plant names link to articles about their growing conditions, one my screen it shows up as green text that I can click) Butterflies will love species like Phlox paniculata, Mountain Mint (genus Pycnanthemum), and Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), plus many others. If you see butterflies on flowers while you shop for plants at a local nursery or botanical garden, that's a pretty good endorsement that they'll like it planted in your yard too. Your oak will also be great for attracting butterflies, since many of their baby caterpillars eat oak leaves (usually minimal so you don't notice, especially once the oak gets tall). American beautyberry in fruit: Painted Lady butterfly on my blue mistflower last fall: