I should also mention that I am in Kentucky.

Can you stand in the road and take a shot of the whole house from the front so we can see the entire expanse? The photo looks like you have a narrow front yard. Do you want to add color? Are there trees? Do you want a lawn? What is your budget? Do you want hardscape?

Thanks Suzi. I will take a couple more pics this evening. I have also attached a few more that I have.

Basically, to the right of this pic is where the hill drops down. There is around 8' to the right of the front porch to the edge of the drop off.

I want a low maintenance landscape that looks good throughout the year.

I don't have a set budget, but would like to keep it low. If I need to I can do things in stages.

On the far side of the porch the house is 25' long. The porch is 8' deep and 20' long.

The back yard is around 30' past the house and around 35' wide. The yard before the house is around 80' long and 35' wide. The driveway will go up to the garage door.

There are no trees currently, but I would like trees. I do want lawn space. I have kids that like to get out and play. Sorry for my ignorance, but I am not sure what hardscape landscaping is.

To the left of this shot is the corner of the house. Then the 16'x9' garage door is on the end of the house.

Thanks for all your help on this.

I looked up hardscaping, and I do like the look. May not be able to do a whole lot of it since I would like a nice lawn area. Thanks again.

Hardscape is something like low planters or retaining walls. Stone, Concrete, Bricks, etc. You are dealing with a slope. Are you just wanting ideas for the flat part above the slope or the entire thing? Which way does the house face? Do you need or want shade?

Just looking for ideas on the flat area. The house faces North, so lots of sun most of the day.

Shade is not a big deal. I like a lot of sun hitting the house. I have a nice 2 level deck on the back of the deck we will use if the sun it too much.

But a few nice trees would look nice I think. I am not sure what direction to take, so all suggestions welcome.

could you please go out in the road and capture a view of the house that shows the whole side facing road? You may need to pan the camera and take a couple of slightly overlapping shots.

I will take one this evening and post it. Thanks

I am very confused by the remark, House faces North, so lots of sun most of the day.

Sorry. Opposite is true...lol.

Here are some more pics. I tried getting the front as best as I could.

I'll post individuals in a few minutes

It creates too much distortion to use computer generated panoramas. The picture I'm looking for will come from the road that travels along the front of the property ... with a normal camera lens. The purpose of the picture is so that the house, as a whole, and how it related to the property, can be understood. It is not for detail per se.

Here are a few more to help out. I had a hard time getting a pic of the front of the house, but I did several trying to give you an idea. I only have around 8' - 16' in front of the house, so I couldn't get a good overall pic. I hope these help out.

Anyone have any ideas/tips? Thanks

Jason, the problem is we can't really see the house as it would be seen from the road. Landscapers like balance. A side view doesn't show that. You need to cross the road and take a photo like a passing car would see your home. It looks like this house is in the country. Is there a plant nursery nearby? They would be able to direct you to the plants that grow easily in your area.

I've pieced together a montage of the 1st floor. But it shows nothing of the upper story. Why don't you just go down to the road and aim the camera back at the house and show the overall view?

I will do that today. I thought you needed to see the ground as well. From the road you will not be able to see any of the level area. I will upload it this evening. Thanks again.

We can see that the level area around the house is shallow. It is the overall scene --how the house fits into the world -- that is being craved.

Ok. I will take a few today. Thanks again.

So the front of the house faces the road but if I were to visit, I would park in the driveway which is on the side of the house. I would then need to walk along the side of the garage without a path to get to the sidewalk and the front entrance? Am I missing where visitors park and enter the house?

If the above is correct, I would add some pathways for people to know where to go to get into the house. Plant low, inviting plants so people aren't deterred (unless you want to live in the scary house on Halloween).

That is correct. I can make the parking wider than the garage. Do you suggest raised beds along the side of the garage with a paver wall?

Thanks for the design. Much appreciated.

On the left side, do I need to do some drainage pipes from the bed area to the other side of the walkway?

I love the flowering trees! Do Crepe myrtle grow there?

Not sure if they would do well or not. In research they do best in zone 7, 8, and 9. I am in zone 6b (Hazard, KY). They do look really good though. Do you think they would do well in 6b?

Looks like some varieties do grow in zone 6. Here is one I like ... http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/RedRocket.htm

Here is the full list :

http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/CrapeMyrtles.htm

Looks like the Red Rocket grows 5 ft per year!

Would you put these on the slope?

Jason, you don't need to drain beds with pipes. It would be troublesome to do and to maintain. grade so water flows over the top.

It doesn't work well to grow things that prefer to be growing in other zones. Better to grow things that are happy in your zone. So I would put crapes out of my mind and think of things like redbuds, crabs, etc. Also, I would go for the bigger, more spectacular show and do a single, matched type tree ... not variety. (I'm sure others will encourage that, though. :-)

In Southern California, prior to putting in a lawn, we lay irrigation pipes. You might get so much summer rain there, that may not be necessary. All of our shrubs and trees are on drip irrigation. It's really hard for someone in zone 9b to even fathom what beautiful flowering trees grow in 6b, but I bet there are many! I've been to Kentucky on business a couple times and all I remember is green! And those white fences! Green! Irrigation pipes might freeze there. Stuff I know nothing about, but please post a link to the flowering tree you choose. Do fruit trees grow there? If so, I'd put a couple on that back slope.

Just looked at your crepe myrtle link. Wow! It says this one can grow in zone 6. It will go dormant. Ours here go dormant also. What a beauty! We have a big pale pink one in front, and rose and fushia colored trees in back. We are on a hillside, so the back ones show as cars drive up the road. They do sucker and root from cuttings, so if you buy just one, you might get a few more in time.

Seems like I'm talking too much, but your setting is so beautiful I can see how landscaping would really enhance your home. One little thing. Whatever you grow, ask questions. Is it messy? Does it have invasive roots? We inherited "the tree from Hell" on this property. It overlooks a deck, is messy in spring, summer, autumn and winter, PLUS it's roots are compromising our septic system! OH my! It will cost close to $1000 to remove.

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions and comments.

I am looking at other options as well for the flowering trees on the front slope.

I am going to see if any of the local stores have any trees. I need to get them in the ground soon or I will have to wait until the Fall.

What do you suggest for the smaller trees and other foundation plantings?

I am looking for low maintenance. Maybe some boxwoods or holly for the smaller 3-4' shrubs?

Blue rug juniper for ground cover? I would like something that isn't too aggressive.

Thanks again.

You have to look around to see what grows well where you are or get recs. from people familiar with that grow zone. As flowering trees go, redbud has a tremendous range and is usually available locally ... and it's a nice, beautiful tree. Dwarf Yaupon Holly is one that can be kept below windows, if it grows well there. For small, multi-trunk foundation planting trees, look at larger shrubs that grow there: burning bush, lilac, pg hydrangea, mock orange, etc. ... not shrubs that sucker rampantly or form billions of shoots (like forsythia.)

The ground cover should show up as something different from the lawn, and not just a continuation of lawn. I don't know what does well there.

One thing to note on Yardvaark's drawing is the sidewalk. I know he mentioned bulking up the steps and sidewalk width but he also continued it on to the driveway. That way people know where to go when they get out of the car.

Tanowicki I agree with you. In fact, I think it is the most important thing in that mock up.

Not a landscaper, just a homeowner, but I think Redbuds are beautiful trees - gorgeous color and almost an ethereal look to them. I have always wanted one, but have no place to put it. They would be fantastic on the slope as Yardvaark illustrated.
Diane

I have access to some Black Diamond Crape Myrtle Best Red trees/shrubs at my local Lowes. They grow around 10' tall. I am thinking about putting them as the multi trunk trees around the foundation. Your thoughts? Or would they be too big for that?

I presume you have looked at the color and like it ...? If that's the case, and they grow well there, crapes would be fine ... though I also presume that 10' really means 20'! No problem. With crapes, you can top them annually to control the height, form and create superior bloom. (Naturally, this presumes that you will learn how to do it so that you aren't accused of perpetrating the dreaded "crape myrtle murder." )

:-) We have a slope to the road like you. One day I'll surprise DH with a carpet of burgundy ground cover with the letters USC in benderboard liners in gold ground cover. He'll be so mad! (My school). He'll then have to find a blue ground cover background and put UCLA in it! A slope can be a fun thing :-)

Good luck with your crape myrtles! Show us a photo when they bloom!

I prefer dwarf conifers like arborvitae or cryptomeria for the evergreen element near foundations. Boxwoods smell like cat pee.

Beautiful property btw...