No...leave them as-is :-) There should always be some 'breathing room' between shrubs (especially evergreen ones) and the house and preferably, room enough for an adult to walk behind the plants to attend to any house maintenance issues.

No, you want them to not touch the house too much. I have a gap like that and never even think about it. It does mean a person knocking on my door can see where I hide the hose but I can live with that.

Thanks for the responses. While I have you here... :) What do you think about the placement of the Japanese maple? I only recently put that in, but it occurs to me that as the boxwoods grow larger they're going to be awfully close to the Japanese maple. I'm thinking of scooting that plant to the right, maybe 10" or so. Thoughts?

Can't see the area clearly enough to comment on the maple vs. the box but unless it is a dwarf cultivar it looks like that area is too tight for it regardless of what else is planted there.

That plant is a Bloodgood since that area receives full afternoon sun, which seemed a tad on the large size for that space, but hopefully workable. Here's a better picture of that area.

'Bloodgood' is one of the largest growing JM's....with time and a suitable climate will get as much as 30' tall and 30' wide. I would find a different location for it :-)

Ah that's not good. The specs I read mentioned 15-20' tall and 15' wide: https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/26/bloodgood-japanese-maple/

There were a few other red Japanese maple options available to me including Coral Bark, Emperor One, and Fireglow (which doesn't appear to be intended for direct sun).

Coral bark ('Sango Kaku') is not red :-) Emperor 1 gets just as large as the Bloodgood. Fireglow is a much smaller growing tree and works perfectly well in full sun provided it gets sufficient water (as is the case for any JM - they are not by nature full sun plants and in hot summer climates, ALL are recommended to receive part shade). Actually in full sun, Bloodgood tends to lose its coloring and bronze out or become more green than red. Fireglow (and Emp 1) holds its color in sun much better.

The Monrovia size is a conservative estimate....usually a 10 year growth size rather than full maturity. And is more in line with the size of a mature Fireglow. Bloodgood and Emperor 1 will be about double that size

Ahh... good to know. Appreciated. When I google bloodgood I don't see many plants that look in the 30 foot range - they appear more around 15-20. Maybe they're not mature?

Do you think Bloodgood could adapt to the full afternoon sun? You can see where the sun comes from the right in those pictures and hammers those plants. That would be the only concern.

Not sure where you might be located so difficult to say with any assurance :-) However.......Bloodgood (and most other red leaved JM's) are recommended for sunny and hot locations, even though it may not be an ideal setting. You may get some crisping on the leaves and be prepared to lose some of that dark, wine red coloring as well.

I'm in zone 9 in the Sacramento area where it gets very hot in the summer. I mispoke above and meant to ask about doing Fireglow in full afternoon sun, since that would be more appropriately sized for that space. You think it could adapt?

the heck with the box and maple.. i want a better view of the hut ... and the castle battlement ... lol ...

the box will grow toward the sun ... its vigor will not be toward the house .... and even if it does.. it will just be the top .. and the rest will become bare as the top shades the backside ...

and you dont want it on the house ... in my MI ... thats an eventual mildew issue on the siding ... if it does ... or a painting problem if the house will need painting ... or future cleaning ....

keep in mind... foundation plantings are planted to hide the foundation ... not on the foundation .. or in this case.. on the house ... trust us on that ...

ken