Where are you?

what direction is this? North side of house?

Zone 6. To give better visual here's this pic

Pennsylvania. Side of house

I wonder if you need bannisters on those stairs. They look scary to me. If you could, I'd replace the stairs with ones that are much deeper: the staircase could extend out as far as the curb if you wanted.

Your flower beds could be more densely planted. Maybe use perennial geraniums to fill in.

You need some serious height! Those bare, blank, 2 storey walls are dwarfing everything planted in front of them.

Any suggestions. I agree it's all " off visually":(((

I'm not pro, but esp. cause you mentioned removing -- in front of the bench is 2 small rounds -- try removing with photoshop. To me, they're the dwarfed [and seem off in front of seating]... for now? no small rocks or the larger one. See what develops.

I think I'd re-jigger the plants you have now. Relocate the bench... unless you use it there. I'd go with either one or two arborvitae on either side of the door and repurpose one of your three round bushes you currently have on the R side of the door for each side of the door with the arborvitae. More the other bigger round one and your two smaller round ones, perhaps to fill in your other bed. Or, if you didn't want to repurpose those bushes, I'd remove them and put in about 3 to 5 feather grasses on each side and line the border with that purple mondo grass. Put down mulch. Arborvitae idea, Feather Grass (just make sure get the type that's good for the kind of light you get there), Black mondo grass

Click on "MORE INFO" to see how this home handled a similar issue.

Country Farm House · More Info

Perpendicular to house is stone walk/ low -- can we see more of it?

I so very very much appreciate all of your feedback. I honestly do. Its a mess. I just planted those 2 Spanish lavendar perennials in front of the yellow bushes and thought about getting 2 more for opposite side walkway but honestly I think I'm adding to chaos not improving it. Hate to be direct but the yellow bushes will stay. Theyr to large to transplant from wall without killing them. Here's few more pics. Yes thats a fence in front of strawberry plants as critters get in there and eat them. Ignore that part. I'm more worried about this side door entrance!! Wld it help if I added a hook beside door and hanging fern or?

Now I see - is it a basement entrance? What I meant was to photoshop the same bushes planted on the other side [where bench is] -

What if the 3 were pruned to look smaller, like the 2 at the side by driveway?

I can't tell. Looking from a bit back at 3 aborvitae type - does that add to a lop-sided feel? I think they might 'stick out' when added to the stone-way. Why not show that area from the other side... ? :)

Exactly what Gardengal said. Bigger shrubs against the two blank walls.

Do you mean u suggest 2 large tall shrubs flanking door? If so can you give recommendations? Yes that stone wall leads to basement;). I see now my silly black squatty planter looks dumb lol. Suprisingly we do use the bench there but I'd consider moving it if looks extra odd. I also keep thinking of removing the pink flowering phlox perennials on side by bird house as thry r quickly taking over ( I'd relocate them). SIGH= no game plan. I guess I'm more concerned with how can I improve doorway area and planting beds in front of it. I do agree a side railing wld benefit older relatives coming down steps as theyr tiny steps to navigate

Me? I thought the 3 on other side could be pruned, to look smaller, like the other 2.

I wonder if the bench could be beside the birdhouse area - creating 'interest' away from entry, where it's hard, unless a pro, and spending money.

Could the bench tuck in between the purple shrubs - facing the people walking by.

Ok so I removed the phlox ( was driving me nuts) and relocated it to a hillside nearby. We rotated long Boulder stone along edge of gravel and going to place another one next to it so gives it a wall affect along gravel and landscape bed. Now we have cleaner slate but I'm still undecided what to plant along this walkway ( figure it can match on left and right of walkway). I gave yellow barberry a major trim as per suggested here.

Sorry to ask again. Would it look better to remove tall arborvitae and flank door with 2 of them?

Not imo, but I'm not expert. I like the neater look of pruning you did, all to same height.

Question - if you like idea of decomposed granite that is lighter, and would de-emphasize shapes of dirt/ mulch area.

The bench seems misplaced to me. I don’t think it belongs here as it seems like an awkward place to walk to and sit. What is that black thing to the left of the bench? It feels awkward too.

In my opinion, you need a stoop twice or three times as big as you have now, stretching the steps out away from the house. But that might be out of your budget too.

Yes I would LOVE a portico and larger deeper steps as these are two squatty. For now, that's not an option. I'm just trying to balance things out in the meantime w landscaping.

We do use that bench where it's located now but I agree somwthg doesn't visually look right there. My sister suggested a vining trellis but?weird as it is to say if I remove bench I feel it wld look that much more bare. To left is a black potted flower ( there's 3 in total centered on sides and middle of garage door.

I cut the barberry down a great deal and feel it looks better. Wondering if I should plant lithrope or monkey grass or? In front of barberry and each side of sidewalk or?

Wihout a structure to change the entire area....

I think there's too many things, many items - more unified with 3 more of same shrubs, where the tall ones are. Let that be a grouping.... ?

I hope that made sense, that the grouping could be 3 new + 3 + the 1 by the bench... all about the same size or height, whichever... :)

Ok so I'm bit confused. I'm thinking if I keep the yellow barberry trimmed relatively small as I did then add 3 smaller perennials in front then I area in front of bench 3 if same perennials ( they wld line the walkway and match) that wld at least add cohesiveness. Maybe hostas or monkey grasses/ lithrope) or whatever u recommend.

I had meant 1 at bench that's there now / 3 where now / and 3 newly planted where the taller, different ones are... photoshop? :)

Oh you mean 3 on opposite side wall by tall arborvitae. There r actually 2 huge sedum perennials in front/ between the arbovitae that look nice. I considered adding a 3rd on end but my daughter said it looks perfect way it is. I'm more concerned abt flank8ng walkway. Those yellow batberrys can grow huge if left out of hand and untrimmed so I must b sure to buy a low profile type perennial or shrub.

I'd put two large outdoor lights on each side of the door. The one small one is lost.

Try spireas, they have nice color.

I have about 6 spirae around front. Maybe not bad idea to flank door? Hmmmm. Everyone was suggesting plants with height so my mind was focused on that. Maybe spiral wld help the squatty cement stoop disappear if even a

Idk that disappearing is all there is -- a structure later might 'hide the door' -- but right now you said 'cohesive'.

The birdhouse- plantings area adds variety.

Let permanent features of the rock stairs 'show' their simple form - and add simple bushes around. I guess that whole part by the door/stairs is background/support for what you have by birdhouse... do you think so?

Is it possible to take a picture out beyond the bird feeder looking straight at door, encompassing that whole side of house and lawn?