"I would like to make the house look less dour and more balanced. I'm not sure how to accomplish that. Should I take out the tallish shrub/tree thing that is pictured (at the right edge of the porch, next to the front door)?" Take it out. It is not helping. It is hurting. Some colorful annuals in that spot would look a lot better. The yard has a generally unkempt and ragged look. Trim. Get rid of weeds. Remove unhelpful plants. If you want privacy on the porch, why not intentionally create a pretty screen instead of using spindly azaleas in a way that says "elderly and struggling"?There are umpteen ways to make something nice that screens. I would not line the walk with anything but the lawn on one side and groundcover on the other. Just weed the groundcover for improved appearance.

I'm in zone 5 NW Indiana. I grow mostly all shrub roses plus a few hybrid teas and climbers. Mine all survive our winters with minimal protection, just oak leaves. Many do require severe pruning but all are blooming by late May/early June. The hybrid Rugosas are extremly hardy. Following is a list you can chose from that I've had for a number of years. The hybrid teas listed have proven hardy in my garden. All are own root. Polar Joy-tree rose Pat Austin-David Austin Jessica Lauren-hybrid rugosa Molineux-David Austin Marie Pavie-polyantha Buffalo Gal-hubrid rugosa Double Delight-hybrid tea Frau Dagmar Hastrup-hybrid rugosa Country Music-Griffith Buck shrub James Galway-David Austin Country Dancer-Griffith Buck shrub Pink Simplicity-Floribunda Charles Albanel-Canadian Explorer Permanent Wave-floribunda Prairie Star-Griffith Buck shrub Aunt Honey-Griffith Buck shrub Bugle Boy-floribunda Women in The Military-shrub Neue Revue-hybrid tea Gentle Giant-hybrid tea Autumn Dusk-Griffith Buck shrub Cape Diamond-shrub Prairie Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub George Burns-floribunda White Simplicity-shrub Hot Cocoa-floribunda Carolina Moon-hybrid tea Our Lady of Guadalupe-floribunda Pope John Paul II-hybrid tea Abbys Angel-miniflora Crystal Fairy-polyantha Autumn sunset-climber Touch of Class-hybrid tea Dream Come True-grandiflora Summer Snow-shrub Betty Boop-floribunda Lavaglut-floribunda Gene Boerner-floribunda Scentimental-floribunda Gold Badge-floribunda Happy Butt-hybrid tea Silver Shadow-Griffith Buck shrub Paul Neyron-hybrid perpetual Eureka-floribunda Chihuly-floribunda Hot Princess-hybrid tea Butterfly Kisses-floribunda Captain Samuel Holland-Canadian Explorer Georgette-shrub Lambert Closse-Canadian Explorer Stadt Den Helder-floribunda Schloss Balthazar-floribunda Robusta-hybrid rugosa Malaguena-Griffith Buck shrub Taboo-hybrid tea Nostalgie-hybrid tea Ebb Tide-floribunda Prairie Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub Carefree Celebration-shrub Dublin-hybrid tea Greetings-shrub Winter Sunset-Griffith Buck shrub Fimbriata-hybrid rugosa La Reine Victoria-Bourbon Watercolors-shrub Garden Party-hybrid tea Proud Land-htbrid tea Louise Odier-Bourbon Lancome-hybrid tea Rhapsody in Blue-shrub Barbra Streisand-hybrid tea Mojave-hybrid tea Falling in Love-hybrid tea Dr. Bill Chapman-hybrid tea Love and Peace-hybrid tea The Oregonian-hybrid tea Frederic Mistral-hybrid tea Lemon Spice-hybrid tea Sunset Celebration-hybrid tea Queen Nefertiti- David Austin shrub Ulmer Munster-shrub Ballerina-hybrid musk Love-grandiflora William Baffin-Canadian Explorer Roseraie de LÂHay-hybrid rugosa Rose de Rescht-Portland Blanc Double de Colbert-hybrid rugosa White Meidiland-shrub Popcorn-miniature Sunny Knock Out-shrub Knock Out-shrub Starry Night-shrub Rockin Robin-shrub Fourth of July-climber Rainbow Knock Out-shrub Home Run-shrub Firefighter-hybrid tea Honeysweet-Griffith Buck shrub Blushing Pink Knock Out-shrub Earthsong-Griffith Buck grandiflora Othello-David Austin shrub Robin Hood-hybrid musk Royal Edward-Canadian Explorer Arcanum-miniflora Conundrum-miniflora KathyÂs Find-shrub Aloha-climber JenÂs Munk-Canadian explorer Carefree Sunshine-shrub Morden Snowbeauty-shrub Garden Party-hybrid tea Stanwell Perpetual- Hybrid Spinosissima. Topaz Jewel-hybrid rugosa Minette- Alba, Centifolia Tradescant-David Austin shrub F J Grootendorst-hybrid rugosa Folk singer-Griffith Buck shrub Winnepeg Parks-Canadian Parkland shrub White Pavement (Snow Owl)- hybrid rugosa George Vancouver-Canadian Explorer Hannah Gordon-floribunda Sweet Juliet-David Austin shrub Sharifa Asma-David Austin shrub BelindaÂs Dream-shrub Prairie Valor-Griffith Buck shrub Carefree Delight-shrub Prairie Joy-Griffith Buck shrub Golden Wings- Hybrid Spinosissima, Shrub. Roselina-hybrid rugosa Nearly Wild-shrub Marie Bugnet-hybrid rugosa Magnifica-hybrid rugosa John Cabot-Canadian explorer John Davis-Canadian explorer Westerland-shrub/climber Rotes Meer (rugosa)-hubrid rugosa Henry Hudson-Cabadian explorer Morden Ruby-Canadian parkland shrub Zwerg-hybrid rugosa King Tut-miniature climber Mrs John Laing-hybrid perpetual J P Connell-Canadian explorer Morden Fireglow- Canadian parkland de Montarville-Canadian explorer Leda-damask Pax-hybrid musk Green Ice-miniature New Dawn-climber Schneezwerg-hybrid rugosa Red Cascade-miniature International Herald Tribune-floribunda Red Wand-miniature climber Morden Blush-Canadian Parkland Morden Centennial-Canadian parkland Lavender Lassie-hybrid musk Emily Carr-Canadian Artist series Crocus Rose-David Austin shrub Pink Pavement (Showy Pavement)-hybrid rugosa Berries & Cream-climber Smoky-hybrid tea Carefree Beauty-Griffith Buck shrub Handel=climber Nicolas-Canadian Explorer Champlain-Canadian explorer Simon Fraser-Canadian explorer Jeanne LaJoie-miniature climber Butterscotch-climber Comte de Chambord-portland Seven Sisters-old garden rose Rosalie Coral-climber Leverkusen-climber Compassion-climber Goldener Olymp-climber Coral Dawn-climber Berlin-climber Les Sjulin-Griffith Buck shrub Dortman-climber PaulÂs Himalayan Musk-Musk Jude the Obscure-David Austin shrub Viking Queen-climber Celsiana-damask Dublin Bay-climber Zephirine Drouhin Quadra-Canadian Exlorer climber Gartendirektor Otto Linne-polyantha shrub HarrisonÂs Yellow- Hybrid Foetida shrub Morden Amorette-shrub Escapade-floribunda Variegata di Bologna-Bourbon Serendipity-Griffith Buck hybrid tea/shrub General Jacqueminot-hybrid perpetual Black Jade-mimniature Sweet Cecilia-hybrid rugosa Orange Triumph-shrub DarlowÂs Enigma- climber Ramblin Red-climber BasyeÂs Purple-shrub Mm Pierre Oger-Bourbon City of York-climber Communis- Centifolia, Moss The Fairy-polyanyha Nashville-shrub Gourmet Popcorn-miniature Summer Wind-Griffith Buck shrub PeleÂ-climber Royal Sunset-limber EllenÂs Joy-shrub Hansa-hybrid rugosa Morden Sunrise-Canadian parkland Candy Oh-shrub Wee Butterflies-polyantha Morden Belle-Canadian parkland Konigin Von Danemark- Alba, Centifolia Frontenac-Canadian explorer Outta the Blue-shrub Livin Easy-floribunda Ivory Carpet-shrub Telluride-shrub, ground cover Rosa Rugosa white-rugosa Rosa Rugosa purple-rugosa Sunnyside Up-shrub

If you are just putting down a mulch, then just keeping it from touching woody stems and barks is OK - a couple of inches away is sufficient. Rodents bothering trees or shrubs is not a huge concern in the OP's area.....unless you are talking about mountain beavers and nothing short of a wire cage surrounding the plant, including roots, will keep them away. The intent is to keep a moisture holding material - like most mulches - away from the woody portions, as it can contribute to rot and bark damage. It won't 'leach' nutrients out of the tree. If you are spreading compost to provide a nutrient source, then yes, you do want to extend that covering out to the dripline, at least. That's where the bulk of the feeder root are located so that's where it will provide the greatest benefit. FWIW, very few tree species develop tap roots and even many of those that do, do so only when very young. The tap root disappears with maturity. Most tree roots are contained within the top 15-18 inches of the soil and many are located just below the soil surface. Neither compost or any other mulch should be applied too deeply - 2-3 inches is sufficient. And somewhat less for very shallow rooted shrubs like rhodies and azaleas. Too thick a mulch layer can smother the fine roots located at the soil surface, depriving them of oxygen.

He called the power company - FPL = Florida Power & Light - and they would do nothing since the trees weren't touching the top lines, which were the power lines. Comcast as usual is non-responsive since they have a monopoly and aren't sufficiently regulated. It sounds like the issue is that the trees are interfering with his satellite dish. One other option he has is to file a nuisance claim against the owner in court to get her to trim her trees. I don't know how reliable this legal info is, but it sounds reasonable to me: http://realestate.findlaw.com/neighbors/home-neighbors-trees.html "Landowners are responsible for maintaining the trees on their property. Legally, they have two duties: make reasonable inspections and take care to ensure the tree is safe. Therefore, if a reasonable inspection shows that the tree could be dangerous, your neighbor is responsible for the tree removal. If your neighbor does not remove the dangerous tree, and the tree does in fact cause damage, your neighbor can be held liable. If you have spoken to your neighbor about the tree issue, and he has not done anything about it you do have laws that protect you. The tree may constitute a nuisance, by interfering with your use and enjoyment of your own property. You could file a nuisance claim, and if the court finds that the true is a nuisance, the court may order the tree removed. Hopefully, you will not have to go that far. Most cities have ordinances prohibiting property owners from keeping dangerous conditions on their property. If you call your municipality, they may remove the tree themselves or order your neighbor to do it."