All of the individual shrubs end up looking to me like giant warts surrounding the house. Not only is their presence a demerit for the yard appearance, but it must add mountains of work to the maintenance. Where windows are low to the ground, you need a groundcover (there are many heights and types to choose from) instead of a shrub collection. Where shrubs will be trimmed, what would be the reason to wait for winter if the task is already long overdue?

As you mentioned, the trees need limbing up. Without it they'll likely develop bad trunking structure. Doing it later just means more work.

At the corners of the garage are a couple of large shrubs. Don't know what they are, but it's likely they could be, and would be better off for it, converted to multi-trunk tree forms with dome-shaped canopies, and allowed to grow to the 12' range, and with a wider spread.

At the left side where grade is retained by a wall ... again, too many wort-looking shrubs that need to go away. The pink flowering shrub is too large for that position (in front of entrance and close to walk.) Instead of a sea of brown, crispy mulch, make it into a bed of solid, low, lush groundcover. Since there is no cap on the wall, it would look better to let groundcover grow over the top edge of it. Let it conceal the raw edge. The wall looks a little rough (bumpy) so it would not be a bad thing for groundcover to cover it, too.

You're cutting crapes too low. Why not raise the height so there is more room below and the canopy is not so "in your face" (covering too much of ground floor of house) ?

If you want to keep the shrubs between the windows and on the corners then reduce their size now so they can leaf out again before winter. On the left side of the door the shrubs covering the windows should be removed. Low perennials that do not block the windows would look better there. On the right hand side you are successful in keeping shrubs small below the windows. They do not have a natural form but if you do not mind the constant shearing you can keep them.

I think you could re work the raised bed area making it much smaller. The current shape is not appealing.

Appreciate the feedback. Sounds like there are way too many overgrown shrubs and shrubs in general.

Trees in yard- these should be limbed up? Not some thing I had thought of.

Crepes- prune them higher next year and clear out some of the low foliage that is blocking the house

Left side shrubs under window - remove them and add a low Perennial or ground over that stays below the window. Ideas?

Flowering bush (left of walkway) - this is a knockout rose. It should be removed also?

Right side - shrubs should continue to be trimmed and be kept below Windows. They are ok if I am willing to maintain.

Large bushes on corner of garage- these should be removed and replaced or just trimmed way back?

Raised bed- how do you propose reshaping this? Would you line the entire inside of the wall with a groundcover? ideas on type that would flow over?

Here are some (not all) of my suggestions. Mainly want to show how to reconfigure wall and bed to make a more friendly and inviting entrance. Also how to convert the large shrub to small tree. And exposing more of ground floor. Right now it looks barricaded by shrubbery.

Wow thank you for the diagram much easier to understand than trying to visualize in my head. I really like the reshaped bed. It is amazing how that opens up the front entrance to be more inviting.

What would you suggest as a ground cover that would drape the wall? Also, what type of tree grows like that? I am in Atlanta, GA area. This makeover will take some time but I will post updates.

You have large shrubs at the corners of the garage. I'm suggesting you turn them into trees by allowing them to grow taller and wider and removing lower branches over a period of time.

There are many variables in groundcover and the conditions they require. You might start by looking near where you live to see what is being used in similar situations. You could go to Pikes and ask them about mat-forming groundcovers in the 4" to 8" range (for the retaining wall area.) It could be somewhat taller at the house side of the walk.

Keep or remove shrubs as you wish. Some people like a lot of shrubs. They do need to be kept from blocking windows though. Yes, your shade trees need limbed up. If you want the rose to survive I think you should wait until Autumn to move it. Do you know the variety of any of the shrubs?