Ken,

I enjoy the process so I am looking forward to being outside in the garden a moderate amount (about 4-6 hours/wk).

I don't know much about plants near a foundation aside from our house inspector telling me to cut them or move them all back. Just for my knowledge can you enlighten me as to why it's not recommended?

There is no reason why we can't expand the beds and I love the idea! I have a rough plan that includes an array of bushes and plants in varying heights (definitely taller in the back) and that will afford them room to grow.

Adding depth to the landscape is exactly what we're looking for and trees that blossom at different times will provide lasting interest upfront.

I will look into the trellis idea. Hadn't given that a thought.

I see a lot of sense in what you're saying about the brick. I'd rather invest the time in the garden and just distract from it. Thanks for the foresight!

Here is an updated picture:

Azalea and Virginia creeper should go too? On the side of the house is Cherry Laurel, more creeper, pencil bush, and crepe myrtle all about a foot or two from the house.

I wouldn't paint the brick. I'd emphasize the cottage look and plant some colorful annuals along the foundation in front. It will give you more to play with. :) I love the azalea and would not remove it! A redbud or flowering crab would look great in the yard.

I wouldn’t lose the Virginia Creeper. It’s a beautiful, low-maintenance vine that supports wildlife, and won’t damage trees or household structures, as some vines do. It will climb and soften edges, and has beautiful color in autumn.

I would replace the metal porch railing with something that runs horizontally. Paint the front door and trim. How do you get the the driveway and garage, out the back, or across the yard?

I wouldn't paint the brick, especially the brick on the sidewalk risers. I've never seen painted brick risers that didn't get black with mildew and other yard scuzz.

I think the biggest problem with your house is the lack of architectural balance. I don't know if it is the case or not but the porch does not look original and it looks like the garage side of the house was added on. Right now it looks like two different houses.

While I suspect that expanding the porch across the house is out of your budget, If your budget is that size you may wish to double the window and that side of the house. it would help with the balance and get more light into the house.

I would balance the house with the landscaping. Something large needs to be planted on to the side of the porch to balance the porch. The idea is to cover the large expanse below this window. This could be a large Rose of Sharon, azalea, lilac, or similar plant the lives in your area. You may want to put the large bush between the window and edge of the house and the spirea, rose of Sharon in this area with the dwarf lilac, azalea between it and the porch.

Possible add a garden in that area with either a hard or soft garden wall to cut it form the yard in general. In this garden you could have lilies, daffodils, roses, ie something to add color all year around. I like curves in garden not hard straight lines and walls.

Once you have corrected the imbalance then consider what to do with the yard closet to the side walk.

What zone and state are you ?

7b Central Jersey

Fothergilla is a nice shrub. Mt airy cultivator. Early spring flowers and nice fall color. I have 5 and love them

paint once.. paint for life ... its the basis of peeps going vinyl on houses.. rather than leaving it to be painted every 5 years or so.. so painting brick would just add a miserable annual job .. becasue paint wont hold onto cement like it might wood ...

in my world.. you NEVER want plants touching your house .. even vinyl molds and mildews ... peeps used to wash windows.. needing access ... and also for hanging Xmas lights if thats your thing ... in the perfect world.. you leave about 2 feet at the foundation bare .. so you space the plants based on future potential out 5 or 6 feet ... and it never hurts to be able to garden from the back of a deep bed ...

you do NOT plant them according to the size they are when you buy them [thats what happened with the prior owner.. ] .. im talking about shrubs and trees .. because those things never stop growing... and who wants to spend time shearing those twice a year.. when you could have planted proper . and not have to do it ...

since you are new there.. have miss dig come and mark all the utilities.. so you dont damage any such... when digging with gusto .... take pix and fil them away for the future ...

did you ever answer how you get from the driveway to the front door ... do you need a walkway from that direction ???

ken

I did not pick up on the fact that you were new to the house. In the spring after moving into this house, I watched the color of the grass and when the green grass marked the utilities growing over them, I took pictured of the yard for reference

You can also use this free service. It is cheaper for the companies to provide the service than to send a repair crew out to fix the problem

Call 811 1-800-632-4949

https://call811.com

811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center's website before digging to request.

Thanks all for your suggestions and info. There are a couple of stairs that lead from the porch to the driveway. We just had the house painted navy blue.