Engage somebody local to come look at the house. And somebody else in your service area to look at the yard, maybe draw up some planting plans.

I think that's a good idea - I have also seen there are some online options for landscape designs that I am also looking into. It is just tough I have always been a DIYer but design has never been my strong suit. I have been tempted to go and buy a truckload of plants from lowe's but I know I'd just bumble around and plant them aimlessly.

In my experience warehouse store plant departments tend to have quite limited selections, not keep the small number of kinds they do present watered very well.

That makes sense. I suppose a landscaper would have a direct connection with the nursery.

Some plant vendors have pre-planned gardens that you can buy. I garden in Illinois and buy from Pairie Nursery who I know sells pre-planned gardens.

I'm all for native plants because they have adapted to local conditions. You might check your state environmental offices for plants native to your area.

Also web searches with your horticultural zone might lead you to interesting information. If you have a botanical garden nearby, check that out. Also look for a local Master Gardener group, for which many states provide training.

If you want some help you could hire a landscape architect who would make a plan for your whole space. You would implement the plan as you have resources to do so.

Another thing to do is to knock on the doors of the houses with the best landscaping in your area and ask for advice--who did the design, who does the maintenance, where they buy plants.... If one of them turns out to be an avid gardener you might find yourself with gifts of plants that have multiplied in their garden or even someone who would look over your place and give advice. A gardener would generally be eager to show you their garden in detail to get an idea of what plants might work for you.

Watch the newspaper for garden walks in your area.

If that is gravel "mulch" in the beds, I'd remove that first and prepare the soil for spring planting. While you're in curb appeal mode, pop those inserts out of the garage windows and clean the stains off the brick.

Many retail nurseries have a plantscape designer on staff who can create a plan for your property for a reasonable fee provided that you buy the plants from them.

Another place to get design help at a bit less-than-pro-company cost is a local college that has landscape design (or similar) among its degree or certificate programs. Contact the program head and ask if there is a student who needs a project - I did this and got some great ideas.

One thing that I would do to start, for your existing beds, is think about making them not so linear/angular - soften them with a bit of curviness in front, at the corners, let the curve "die into" the driveway instead of meeting it square on.

I would also choose a material that compliments the brick (maybe some stacked stone) and build a short retaining wall for a raised bed, about just below the height of the porch, with similar curves as the front of the bed & about 3- 4 feet in depth - in front of the porch front, sides, and along the front of the house. So your front bed will have a 2 tiered effect which will hide the porch base, and add interest with the short, curving wall. You would use window well forms in front of the foundation air vents.

I rather like the shade of blue on your shutters, but a medium navy blue on all the trim work, including the garage door would I think look good with your brick and roof.

The front door seems to be the wrong style for the house - have you thought about changing that?

Having a pre-planned garden would be ideal - I am in zone 7B and from what I’ve seen there’s a large selection of native plants I should be able to source locally, I’m going to reach out to a nursery down the road from me tomorrow.

The mulch/gravel bed is exactly that- it’s a mix of pea gravel, smooth rock and what I believe is pine bark? There’s also a French drain that’s cornered where the walkway meets the driveway, I assume it’s ran through the mulch bed.

The retaining wall idea is great - I have a much easier time imagining how to create that rather than use the existing beds that are just squared with landscape timbers. I also have a style of retaining wall I like a lot which I used for a firepit last summer.

I think the front door is original to the house however I’m not entirely sure. I wouldn’t know what style to change it to. It matches the interior well, the previous owner was a carpenter and did a lot of custom wood work inside including a wood-paneled sunroom with large exterior windows.

What ever you plant be sure that the mulch and dirt are below the brick. It can cause a flood into the house especially if the edging holds water. A friend had to recarpet and repaint because of this.

I would look around neighborhood to see what grows well. Make sure you get low growing shrubs for less trimming. Plant perennials like Iris and bulbs for spring and mums for fall.

IMO this is a very close in style to a MCM ranch . What kind of style do you like? More modern or more leaning traditional. I love MCM so I will show you my look for the house as far as landscaping goes. But first remove those shutters and the flag. This is just my inspirstion for the style I think the house is Of course not the gray and please do not paint the brick.So much of this depends on where you live and how much work you are planning on doing once the landscaping is done. The garage door and front door in this pic are the style I am talking about. The house can go in many style directions so start an idea book and add things you like there so we get a clue as to your style.

Thomas, we all start out 'bumbling around' and somewhat clueless about design. That being said, Google and a good local nursery are your friends, and as has already been suggested, for inspiration look around at what other people in your region have done. Snap photos and start to think about attracts you over and over to start to understand your own design leanings.

Meanwhile, one of the happiest discoveries I've made in gardening (and I'm relatively new to it) is how tolerant the right plants are (meaning that I don't like plants that die when you look at them cross-eyed!) to being moved. So go ahead and buy some, plunk them in roughly the right spot (read the label, Google, or ask at the nursery) then tweak the positioning later on.

Short of hiring someone there isn't really a shortcut as it takes some trial and error to learn. But it's a really pleasant hobby!

As for your house, it's nice and neat and looks in good condition, but is a bit dull. Again, look for inspiration in your neighborhood and Google for ranch renovations.

And those mulch beds? They don't have to stay, you know. Gather up the mulch to re-use, however. Zone 7b looks like a pretty easy one by the way, so lucky you :-).

The MLM style isn’t much of my thing- the interior is a mix of traditional/modern with an updated kitchen with updated white cabinets and granite counters/stainless appliances with lots of light, however the rest of the house continues with a 90s wood theme, all the interior trim is original wood as well as wood floors. There is also an old wood stove wrapped in a brick chimney between two walkways that enter the kitchen/bedroom areas. I think I’d like to continue with a bit of modern/traditional on the exterior without flooding it with too much modern. I like the idea of removing the shutters, but I’d want to add some other accents that counter the blandness of the exterior. I am starting today with removing the garage window inserts as well as trying out some dark navy paint splotches for the trim and garage.

Here are a few ideas:

I love that Doug,
Thank you!

I am interested in removing the front part of the mulch bed next to the pathway, but I believe I would disrupt the French drain in the process, I believe the previous owner installed it due to draining issues since the house is on a grade down from the road

Dig Doug beat me to the punch as I was creating my concept with the tree beds.

The main difference in my idea is to just leave the mulch bed/french drain area as it is, and use a boxwood hedge to disguise the area from the curb. I think it's okay to see them once you approach the front porch.

Add planters to the porch with shutters in the same charcoal color.

Doug gave you the blue print. I would only add perhaps paint your front door, I like the color of your shutters I would maybe go a bit more navy.

I do like Doug’s design a lot, I think some native azaleas would work perfect. Along with some native grasses and small shrubs.

Love the examples posted. I still think asking neighbors what they planted does a couple of things - teaches you what thrives in your zone, shows you how others used certain bushes and flowers successfully and helps you find the gardeners who will help you.

My gardening lessons came from a neighbor across the street who had an amazing green thumb. She gave me plantings, ideas and warnings of what won’t grow. Other gardeners will reinforce the plants that survive.

You may also make a friend who will flat out help you to design, plant and teach you how to properly trim.

Some catalogues sell entire gardens for your zone. That’s always a great start.

French drains are common in my neighborhood, and function under grass - they don't require mulch or gravel to cover them. I suppose it might depend on just how much water it needs to handle at a time.

No matter what the interior woodwork is like, you want the front door to harmonize with the exterior. The glass is a faux Victorian/Edwardian? era style which is way off; you can likely find a door with a simpler design that works with the outside as well as the inside (Is the custom interior woodwork ornate?)

Also, think about how much time and inclination you will have for keeping shrubs pruned, replenishing mulch, weeding and so forth. Those are major factors to include in the planning of the size, shape, and plants of your beds.

I hate to mulch except for certain areas, so I use a fair amount of "green mulch": low growing ground cover plants that aren't such aggressive spreaders that I have to restrain them constantly.

Thomas you are probably right about not disturbing the area above the french drain. If the mulch is working, fine...if it ain't broke, don't fix it....and you do have a pronounced slope to the foundation. I can only imagine how wet this area was before the installation.

I would also be cautious about plant roots getting into the drain system and plugging it up, they grow so fast and are tenacious. Any of these suggested plantings should be placed well away from the drain.

I found this quote and a link:

"you should know how to keep roots away from French drains. As you know, plants need a consistent source of nutrients and water. Since French drains handle water all the time, it is easy for the surrounding plants to gain access to the water within the French drain piping. This results in damage and clogging. Ultimately, the roots will keep the French drain from performing adequately."

https://www.bio-septic.net/roots-french-drains/

I was just guessing as yto your style. I will repeat what you have been told go to your garden center and start now with a plan for spring planting. Doug does an awesome job of helping ti visualize the finished product . I still am curious as to how much gardening you want to do?

A lot depends on when the sun shines on the beds. Some plants like sun. Some like shade.

The shutters are easy. Buy a gallon of exterior semi-gloss in the color you want and paint them.

I would try to figure out why the left lower part of the picture has what appears to be rust stains on the brick. Fix it before doing anything else.