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Imagine having the plants flow out from the house instead of jammed up against it in a linear fashion. Incorporate trees into larger, connected islands so they are less like punctuation circles in a sea of green.

At this moment, it is all too precise and unimaginative and very un-natural looking for vegetation.

Just my opinion. Drive around and make notes of what you like in other people's landscapes.

I second esh's comments. I would also radically expand the planting areas by the front porch and along the entry walkway to welcome people to the front door. You've got great possibilities here. As always, you should think about what you want to do in the area and how much effort you want to devote to making it look its best. Do kids need a play area?
It looks like your side yard gets a good amount of shade depending on how the lot is situated. This will impact what plants will do well. You have mature trees and ground cover. There's lots to go in between to make your whole yard tie together. Please provide a little more info.

The side yard (AC side) is almost exclusively in the shade except in the winter. During the spring, summer and some of the fall there is a pretty thick canopy in the trees. I seeded it with grass seed last summer but it never really took hold.

Another note/odd thing about our house is that the two doors in the picture (front door and driveway side door) are the only two doors we have. There is no door to the back/side yard.

I am open to almost anything and am really interested in giving our house some serious curb appeal.

I appreciate all ideas on this.

Do you NEED a back door? If so, I'd hold off on major landscaping in the back until I figured out how to add one. Our former residence had three entrances to the house--one on either side and a front door. Worked well for us...but your situation may be different.

That said...without knowing your zone, I cannot make any plant suggestions. I can tell you that trying to grow grass where it doesn't want to grow is a losing proposition. Looks like you have little people living in your house...are you planning to do any fencing?

As far as "curb appeal"...the existing planting beds are too narrow. I'd really like to know how you want/plan to use your space before making any suggestions. I am not a designer...just an avid amateur who works in a garden center...so I know a fair amount about zone 7 plants.

melanie

I am in agreement with the other posters.
The two trees (visible in photo) in the front yard should be included in one large bed. Keep the lines soft, and maybe build up a little berm, or add large rocks to break up the flatness. Add some colorful perennials and tada it will look like it belongs there.
The foundation beds are far too narrow to be workable. I would not plant anything closer than 3' from the house so you should figure the beds to be at least 6' deep and curvaceous. Consider planting a smaller ornamental tree on the corner of the porch, this will be a nice frame to that area plus give you a little privacy.
When I first looked at the house I thought that it needed some shutters.

I definitely agree about the shutters. That will be one of our first projects that we take care of.

Thanks for everyone's input and keep the ideas coming.

When thinking about shutters, make sure they are the correct width, meaning, to the eye they would look like they would totally cover the window if closed. The house in the background is one of those "can't help it" situations..little narrow shutters plopped up beside double windows. Icky.

There are some goodlooking vinyl shutters out there. Board and batten seem to be getting very popular in my area of Bamaland.

Here is a link that might be useful: some shutters

Here's another source I've found that looks good. IMHO, "no space" looks better than the example shown ("with space")

Here is a link that might be useful: Vinyl shutter source

another great link..if you've got a handy carpenter in your family/friend list.

Also, the above link has lots of different kinds of vinyl shutters, not just b and b, if you're not interested in the look.

Here is a link that might be useful: build your own b and b shutters

Hi alabama,

First you should find your USDA zone, which is related to the average high and low temperatures in your area, and which you will need when selecting plants. Verify on the tags of any plant you want to buy that those are actually for your zone. Do not trust the stores to furnish only applicable plants.
Then I would suggest that you buy a book about landscaping, bushes, trees, perennials, lawns. That book should show you which plants are applicable to your zone, which are for shade, and which for sun. Curb appeal is important, and proper landscaping prevents future headaches.

I noticed that some bushes are right flush to the siding. In warm and moist summers that should lead to mold buildup. I would move those bushes out such that there is a clearance of at least 1 1/2 ft to the house for you to walk and work behind for cleaning leaves out, paint the siding, prune the bushes.
I agree with others that the plant beds are too narrow. I.e. I like circular beds on house corners to soften that. There are bushes for shade - possibly also in your area azaleas and hollies would be a choice. In zone 5 I use also rhododendrons. As groundcover I use here hostas, hellebores and pachysandria which might also apply to you. There are fescue grasses for shade in my area which work somehow.

I also notice the swing in the back yard. A play area with soft mulching under the swing would be nice, a sandbox, and some seats. Fencing off the backyard to protect a child against strange dogs would be good.

In fall I always rake all leaves off the lawn to avoid fungus in spring. Running the leaves over with a mulching mower also helps. In my area I do not see the lawn from December to end of March.

Good luck!
Bernd

Be more generous in the depth of you beds, big mistake most people make is skimpy shrub beds, we did all our own landscaping except for the concrete curbing, but the shape was all our doing, we used a garden hose to attain the shapes before digging up sod, some people use spray paint, and it's nice to use curves, semi circles etc. like around your large tree's, we used weed block planted everything, then topped with stones or of course you could use mulch your choice, also we added shutters on one side and back in the color of our trim on the front of the house to break up all the white of our home and add interest, around the AC and garbage can's we built a fence with a gate, which you need for AC maintinance access, here's a few pics.
front right corner and right side, with shutters 2 windows
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back of home, shutters on two windows:
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fence around AC etc.
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If you want you can add more trees or put up planters. How is the landsape removal cost? Is it just as expensive as San Diego. You have a beautiful home you should copy your neighbors stlye. Create your own look! Find what style you like, it doesn't even have to be the same type of landscape styles. You can pick little pieces of plants flowers color of planters and make it your own look. I think landscape should be original art not a copy of one. My company in San Diego gets rid of landscape material, we work with many landscapers. I see their creation, some are alot more creative than others, I can tell you that much. Any ways Good Luck! Sou

Here is a link that might be useful: ace hauling

Hello to Alabama.
Two things spring to mind. First, what's your budget?
Second, who is going to do the work? Yourselves, friends or contractors?
Get those organised before you start thinking of what to do.

Phil