Zone 8 where?

I’m heartbroken at how that poor Crape Myrtle was butchered. I’m guessing you just bought the house and this is a real estate picture?

What kind of budget and upkeep are involved? Are you new to landscaping or have experience?

Need more info. :)

You have a pretty blank slate so there are lots of options. Ask yourself how much time do you want to invest in upkeep? Do you have a local garden or landscape designer who can offer ideas for a small fee? Sometimes if hired to do the install they will absorb the fee. The designer can create both bird’s eye and elevation sketches. If you get the design but like to do your own work you can install in stages.

Yes the crape myrtle makes me so sad too!! I’m wondering if it will just recover if it’s left alone?

It will to a point, but it can weaken them in the long run. I’ve seen countless Crapes of this size have their life span greatly shortened due to this practice.

(Cue someone coming on saying they’ve been topping for 147 years and their Crape is just fine.)

Anyway, yes, just leave it alone, it won’t hurt anything. It will send out shoots … it just won’t look as natural. And watch for insects and fungus issues.

Whomever planted it did the typical impulse planting, I’m guessing —not realizing how big a tree it would get and placed it way too close to the house. Probably started topping it when it was half the height it is now and branches were pushing up against the window and house.

Sorry, I get heated over this. :D

Are you in Texas? I’m in D/FW.

Yes the Crape Myrtle will grow back out and form a proper canopy if Left Alone. I'll guess zone 8 Texas. What direction does the house front face sun wise? Do you prefer a more rigid formal look or something more free flowing and natural?

In general because the beds are so tiny, think of them as very large pots and you will want to do some potted plant arrangements. To that end choose three species of plants, preferably perennials with long seasonal interest or evergreens for your zone and location. One should be a groundcover plant. The others a dwarf subshrub and a flowering perennial, all under 3 feet in height. Arrange them in a pleasing manner.

Paint the door a fun color.

Just to show an example of what to expect when it starts leafing out:

Good example of how unnatural it looks, and how weak the limbs are. It’ll still make a canopy, yes, but not a good one.

Ok, I’ll stop. :D

If you are in Texas, we need to know what area — soil type — for suggestions. Or what other southern state if not Texas.

@Jilly That quite large CM doesn't show any signs of butchery in its early life. The new growth will be a bit weak stemmed, but Left Alone the tree will sort itself out and form strong stems and a natural looking canopy in about three years.

Yes, I agree and looking again was wrong about when the Crape murder probably started on the OP’s tree. But very much disagree with the rest of your post.

Time will tell.

Central Texas pretty sure I’m north enough to be 8a now. Think I might be in black land prairie not sure. West-Northwest facing front yard

Here are some ideas:

That looks really nice thank you for the visual