Yeah, the old bushes were a little too high. We were thinking some boxwoods to go with some hydrangeas? Something with some color to hopefully pop against the darker porch and dark mulch. The original space in front of the porch was pretty deep. I'm guessing almost 5'. Does it need to be that deep? Also, when I add the mulched area around the sidewalk, how deep should that be? I was thinking 1.5'? Is that enough room to add a few small bushes?

I confess, I am not seeing any rhyme or reason to the plan, other than "here are some nice shrubs." The forms don't complement the slope itself. They will be shrubs sticking up on a slope. You will not buy huge specimens and they will not grow at the same rate so ultimate heights and blending doesn't seem a sure thing. The shrubs won't provide enough erosion/weed control; if ivy is to be the basis of groundcover/erosion control, plugs should be set throught the shrub area, too, though it may not go with the shrubs (competes?)and/or the shrubs might be superfluous (dark green laurels sticking up out of dark green ivy). How is the vinca and ivy going to be integrated/compete. If you aren't terracing, wouldn't it almost be better to acknowledge the slope but have a pretty, green slope or a few contrasting greens("my house is at the top of a hill, by doggies, so use the steps!")? Perhaps use just a whole lot of groundcover--this could be explored further as to type;; I don't recall sun/water conditions--vinca for flowers? Ivy for sun/shade/drought/indestructible? Both good for uniform green color, cheap, fast spread. Carpet junipers? Daffodil idea is great for breakthrough color, no maintenance. Focus a few small trees or largish shrubs somehow related to what needs to be accomplished at stair way or other "focal" or grounding points (someone help me here, I am out of my league, other posters already said this.) These ideas are already in the above posts but the great thing about your posted plan is that to me it illustrates how those alternatives would be preferable. Don't mean to appear so negative and without precise alternatives. You DO have a plan. Maybe it is providing more important form and color interest than I can see. But it strikes me as very cookie cutter, foundation-ish and not really slope- or function- oriented. If somehow you could photoshop the same image with more of the down-flowing, uniform groundcover, correct color (not brown mulch, though mulch would be needed for the first couple of years) and the focal points I think the difference in "feel" would be more obvious. Youu would put divide your budget into LOTS of groundcover pots and a few specimens. Your existing shrubs could probably be configured in somehow for grounding. Either way you will have mulch/watering/weeding for several years until established. Can you "work" with the person who did your plan, saying, how 'bout something more like this....? Anyway, just think how much farther along you are in your thinking, planning, evaluating. Hopefully, it's all heading toward the ultimate goal of a plan that works best for you.

Congratulations on your new house! It's cute, and having that large tree for shade is a real bonus. I agree with Christopher's comments about using small trees (or large shrubs limbed up to tree form) to provide privacy in particular spots such as the deck area rather than a tall wall of green along the road. A lower hedge or fence will help create a personal space to keep the neighbor's dog out. Plants close to where you want particular privacy work as well as those farther away and may make for a more attractive yard. In areas with snow that needs to be plowed (along with road salt considerations) you will want any shrubs or fence along the road set back far enough so as to not be damaged by heavy snow curling off a plow blade. So I would talk to the neighbors and find out if plowing ever happens on your road. (Doug obviously lives in a warm zone.) :>) In my area I can't plant closer than about 6' to the road, but I imagine that you get somewhat less. It is possible to plant salt-tolerant perennials, which will be underground when any plowing happens, in the area outside the fence. I also notice that the current flower beds by the house are really skinny. I would make them at least 5' deep (mine are mostly deeper than that) and I would get rid of all the rocks which are a hassle to mow and weed around. Advertise the rocks for free on Craigslist and you won't have to figure out how to move them. Edge the beds with a clean cut or a mowing strip of bricks combined with a buried metal or plastic edge to keep out grass. Or remove the bed all together and have grass up to the house except for the right side with the high window where a flowering shrub would be nice. I like 12 Gardens suggestion for framing the deck with either taller in-ground plantings or containers since I would worry about someone stepping off the edge who wasn't paying attention. And the suggestion to make the garage a garden focal point is excellent! As s/he suggested, before making a plan, figure out what you want to do with your yard and where best to put things to suit both the activities (veggies in shade doesn't work) and the space. Don't forget to consider winter appeal both from inside the house and outside.

With the redbud there and your preference for minimal planting you don't need an additional tree. Otherwise apart from their current size the main issue with the existing shrubs is that they have been formally sheared to all have generally the same size and shape, more or less. And since over around the garage an exposed foundation isn't visible you may not need to have any shrubs in front of the left part of the house at all. Due to the implication being that the foundation is not exposed there either. Maybe it would even be to your taste to have a bed of shrubs around the redbud and nothing but lawn and paving around the house.