This could be sooo pretty - I would take this photo to a local nursery to ask for their input. I know that our nursery will give you a "we plan, you plant" design. Anything you plant will initially need some care though.

yes. those green shrubs are going to grow very bushy and end up squishing back against the wall. If those are boxwoods, they will also need constant trimming to keep them looking neat or else they look like this:

they look like small camellias.. do you know what they are? camellias or gardenias would actually be nice there. but they are a bit close to the wall.

if you're in the proper zone, look into doing some succulents and native grasses for you area for low maintenance.

Can't give recommendations without knowing your zone.

The pebble rocks look fine to me too. The plants in the back leaning against the wall better all go. Of the other plants you might be able to save some (all seem a bit much), but they need to be replaced away from the edge. The plant at the right front could stay, if you like it.

Go for one bigger (but rather thin) vertical plant, which is an evergreen. Go for one that either doesn't grow too fast, or can be easily trimmed. Conifers come in different shades. I have a dark green one with big needles and beautiful cones that doesn't grow fast, I think it is a Pinus variety, but I don't know the exact name. Ask advice in your garden center. You want one that stays thin and doesn't reach above 9 feet when fully grown. Place that one in the middle of the bigger section at the right.

You might add some early blooming azalea's in a group of three (but not touching each other) and indeed some smaller grasses, most of which stay beautiful in wintertime too. Lavender and heather also tend to make good solitudes on gravel. Some leaveshedding rhododendrons grow slowly and add some extra color in the month of May.

If you want the red to come back, than place a smaller red plant too, that doesn't lose its foliage. How about a barberry? One that does lose its leaves, but is very pretty is Weigelia. Keep it trimmed though.

It will sooner be too much, than not enough, so try to contain yourself whilst shopping.

Pampas Grass "Pumila" would look nice with your brick.

Instead of planting things "in a row," try planting them in groups (clumps) of 3, 5, 7, 9-- odd numbers. It'll look a lot better in this informal area.

The zone is 9b

The plants at the front are dietes bicolor, in the center I had 4 knockout roses in pink

Thanks for all your suggestions!!

Bellburgmaggie what is the ornamental grass in the picture?

I'd put some apricot ground cover roses

tatts: in regards to the specimen tree the redbud, can you sent me a picture of the tree you are referring to. I would greatly appreciate it.

tatts: we are in zone 9b, so what other good plants you recommend? Thanks for all your help!!

Before you do any more planting, please add appropriately sized shutters and pull the existing plants further from your foundation. I would then fill the area with lavender which will only require annual shearing and cutting out any dead wood. Or you could combine lavender with other low maintenance