I have also seen some houses that have a trellis over the garage with vines growing and that looks really nice. However, I have no idea how to make it work with my house.

[Disclaimer: I'm not a Professional, just a chick who likes flowers! lol]

I like the idea of a small evergreen tree on the right side of the garage, but pulled away from the house so that at maturity, it doesn't scrape the siding.

Along the entry path/long side of the garage, I'd replace the hollies with a low-to-medium height evergreen shrub that flowers in whatever accent color(s) you have on the interior. If possible, I'd create the same effect on the *other* long side of the garage, too. :-)

I'm a big fan of window boxes (which you may or may not like at all, lol), so I would put window boxes under the garage window and the window to the left of the door. Very low growing flowers for the garage window, and a cascading evergreen for the left-of-the-door window. In the flower bed to the left of the door, I'd repeat the entry path/garage flower bed, and either add a tall flowering perennial or a tall shepherd's hook with bird house/feeder, to the far left near the corner of the house.

What do you think? :-D

Edited to add: I also really like pergolas/trellises over garages! If you wanted the pergola to rest on the ground, you could steal space from the flower bed. If you wanted the pergola to be mounted to the house, where it basically looks like outside brackets connected with a little roof, you wouldn't have to disturb the flower bed. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work out, but I fully admit that I may not be considering something super important. I'm sure others will chime in!

Gorgeous house! I’m also not a pro but have been gardening my entire long life.

what direction does your garage face? If that is the sun setting I’m assuming it is east?

also, how wide is the bed between the sidewalk and garage?

if this were my house I would remove all of the hollies. I would do the pergola over the garage with the columns planted where hollies were. along the garage side I would fill it with bulbs, perennial flowering shrubs, etc to provide color each season. Leave room to add seasonal annuals.

In the smaller bed under the front window is there room for a Japanese maple? I dont know if they work in your location but a small similar tree is probably available.

I hope you will share the outcome!

@One Devoted Dame Those are all good ideas! I really like the idea of a flower box above the garage door. The only issue is the middle part of the window doesn't open so it won't be possible to get to the flower box 🤦‍♀️. So maybe I can do it when that window is replaced.

I'm also considering putting 2 medium sized cypresses on either side of the garage window.

@tannatonk23_fl_z9a Thanks! Yes, the sun is setting behind the house. I need to lookup the size of the bed. Japanese maple was actually recommended to me by a landscaper before.

Those are all good ideas! I really like the idea of a flower box above the garage door. The only issue is the middle part of the window doesn't open so it won't be possible to get to the flower box

Oh, sorry for the confusion!

I wasn't thinking of any flower boxes *out of reach* -- I was thinking of flower boxes under the window by the door, and under the garage window (on ground level) that's along the entry path, before you reach the stairs. :-)

I'm also considering putting 2 medium sized cypresses on either side of the garage window.

I would only do a tree on the right side of the garage; I fear that putting a tree on the left side of the garage will make the pathway to the front door seem cramped and unwelcoming.

Do you have any pictures of a flower box you have in mind? I was thinking about this when I read your post.

@tannatonk23_fl_z9a The bed of bushes along the garage wall leading to the entryway is 21 ft long and 4'10'' wide.

I feel like it's the only space in the front yard where I could showcase landscaping so naturally I want to put a lot of things there but I know I need to be careful not to cram too much.

Do you have any pictures of a flower box you have in mind? I was thinking about this when I read your post.

The style of those will definitely work; as long as you match the formality of your shutters, you're good to go. :-) And the white matches your trim. Perfect!

As for what to fill them with, there are so many considerations, but it sounds like you already have lots of plants you want to use, which is awesome. <3

I feel like it's the only space in the front yard where I could showcase landscaping [....]

Is it possible to create another 4'10" wide bed on the other side of the entryway path?

Is there a gate (or secondary entry door to the house) around the other side of the garage (to the right)? If so, you have the opportunity for a less formal pathway (stepping stones?) and additional gardening elements.

It should be possible to create another bed. I fear it would make entry way too cramped.

I think I’ll do one side to be safe.

Pressure wash the driveway. That is the first thing I noticed. Agree that the holly walls must go🤓. Good luck.

In general, I think the house proportions would be improved by "stretching" the landscaping toward the left (when facing front door), and minimizing landscape along long wall of garage. So perhaps plant a japanese maple or large flowering shrub (e.g. rose of sharon, hydrangea, decorative grass, etc.) six to eight feet away from the corner of your house. That will "stretch" the house in that direction.

Two alternatives for the remainder:

1) Along the long wall of the garage, add a window box planter, and just use stone for the bed itself. Add a flower box planter under window to the left of front door, and a trellis over the garage door with flowering vine. Or

2) Plant easy colorful plants (e.g. day lilies, or hostas, decorative grasses, etc.) along long wall of garage, and favorite flowering plants and shrubs in planting bed to left of front door.