The tiny plants will get bigger and fill in. I think it looks good as is. One big mistake new gardeners make is planting too many plants. You can plant the willow where you want, but keep in mind the small plants probably like a lot of sun so the willow may hinder them.

Paint the shutters. They look like a mistake in that flesh tone paint.

kidhorn2, thank you. I have wondered that as well but I do like the general look of the bed on the left side of my house better with the more layered blend. I would like a little more on the right, but perhaps I could give things another year to grow. I don't see the bowling balls getting too much larger at this point, but I do appreciate your perspective and maybe I should wait. Thank you!

Beverly, I have been thinking the same. We purchased this house a few years ago and I would like to get rid of that color. It is on the trim around the house so a bigger problem than just the shutters. I have also wondered about a mid to light tone grey to coordinate with the roof. That is probably a project in a few years. Maybe we could change just the shutters for now and it would be ok though... a good idea, thanks!

I think a formal look would suit your home well. I'd consider bordering the front bed in boxwood (Buxus) to provide that structure. But I'd move the arborvitae and salvia to a less regular distribution. The rigid symmetry feels more like a plant nursery than a garden.

The dappled willow will do well between the windows. But it won't provide much contrast against the brick. It might look better on the corner by the downspout. For the centre, I'd be looking for something like a ninebark (Physocarpus) with deep bronze leaves or a purple smoke bush (Cotinus). A black, cutleaf elder (Sambucus nigra) might work too. I'd also plant some grasses for movement, fluidity and winter interest-- something like red switch grass (Panicum virgatum) and Miscanthis sinensis

Any variety of willow would be, I think, a problem planted so close to your home, especially in a pocket only 6 feet deep. Willows require water, and if they don’t get it…they will find it. These “shrubs” can grow 8-10’ tall and equally as wide. And, their root systems are extensive. This doesn’t appear to be a foundation plant, except in its first season; they do best when planted near a water source like a pond or stream. I would rethink your decision to plant this “shrub” in such a conspicuous, limited space.

There are scores of different willow species and not all of them are water hogs or even water lovers and the dappled willow fits in that category. It does not have an invasive root system, does not need to be planted by a water source and is perfectly happy growing with typical garden irrigation.

But I do agree that it lacks much contrast against the brick and kind of disappears into it. The darker colored shrubs Jennifer suggested would make much more of a statement :-)

I appreciate all of the comments. I see that it looks like the willow blends with the house now, however below is how I envision it to look when it grows in and fills out. I added in a larger silver king euonymus than it currently is and maybe I could also swap the hydrangea for one as well to balance it all out. Not sure if this is too "arranged" or how to do it better.

I also like the ninebark idea and Jennifer's thoughts as well. So perhaps the below are options, otherwise I guess I would wait until next year and try to talk to a landscape designer about adding boxwood, etc such as Jennifer's thoughts to make it more formal.

If there is more feedback on which way I should go, this is definitely helpful. Thank you. I want it to look nice, and am willing to wait until next spring and make more of an investment if that's the better route. I kind of like the below, but perhaps there are better options such as what Jennifer was thinking.

Here would be full view

You still have plenty of time to add plants this spring if time and budget allow. You might like to take a field trip to the Holden Arboretum for some inspiration. Last time I was there in spring the most glorious collection of yellow magnolias was blooming. Actually, Ohio has a lot of really amazing public gardens and arboreta, some world-class. They are a terrific resource for learning both which plants are happy in your area and what looks good together.

I'd go w/Urbane bronze on the shutters. (white is too stark) you can do the trim and the gable shake w/it later. but those current flesy tones have to go!

I think I do like the idea of a darker shrub better than the dappled willow. I will plant the willow in my backyard instead maybe.

I actually think I really like this idea, below. Better? I am not a great decision maker. I’ll ask at my local nursery again but I see a lot of constructive feedback on these forums and would love any other advice or confirmation if this might work well :)

Definitely seems to be an improvement over what’s there now. The shrub between the windows is tuxedo weigela. I like the dark leaves and white flowers and would look for something similar if I can’t find that.

Mix your plants a bit. Put 2 hydrangeas on one side and one on the other. What you want is repetition across your property. It will tie things together.

Hi Gardengal, thank you very much for that comment. I hate that tree, it feels overgrown for the space although my husband keeps trimming it and saying he likes it and it’s fine. I would love to replace eventually when I can convince him. What would you recommend in its place? I would love a recommendation!

Did you see my last rendering with a darker shrub instead of the willow? I agree this is a better look! If you have any thoughts on how to arrange around it that would be awesome.

I am not against incorporating a bit of red I guess, Jennifer suggested red switch grass. I can look for something like that.

I have been thinking about this a lot and I was able to locate a tuxedo weigela, which seems like it would provide nice contrast, grows fast, and up to 5’x5’, but then I got to thinking about how it will still look bare in winter.

I don’t know what they are called but I have seen some ornamental looking blue spruce type trees with curvy trunks. I wonder about something like that for between the windows or do I just need to do more layering around the weigela if I go that route to get some height? Open to ideas if anyone has thoughts. It excites me to see all the new plants and shrubs available at the garden centers but I am having trouble figuring out what to do 🤯 haha. Thanks in advance for any other feedback!

ornamental blue spruce type trees with curvy trunks is probably a weeping blue atlas cedar. Have you found one in your price range?

^^^ Weeping atlas cedars get ginormous, even the serpentine ones, so NOT a good selection for between the windows! Sorry.

Bummer. Any other recommendations? Pricing is not really a concern, open to an investment.

I just googled weeping blue atlas cedar and that is not what I was referring to, but I would be open to any recommendations. It seems like an evergreen would be better for year round interest vs a ninebark or weigela right?

Your house is beautiful! It feels like all the landscaping is smashed up against the house with no depth, any way of bringing something out into the yard? Not sure how many feet from sidewalk to house. Also, your entry is dark and could really benefit from bright entry lights. And removal of the planters - too crowded.

Haha I can’t figure out what to do with this empty looking bed by in front of the house much less create any more bed or planting areas. We have so many beds all around the house, the previous owners really did a lot. They had rose bushes in the front bed that I could not stand so I removed them. I really just need help figuring out how to make the front bed look nice. We do have brand new bright porch entry lights, they were just not on since it was daytime when the photo was taken.

You want to have both deciduous and evergreen shrubs. That way you get 4 season interest and a changing landscape. If you just do evergreens, it's not nearly as nice. Also, confiers are not the only plants that provide winter interest. Consider boxwood, red osier dogwood (requires pruning), perennial grasses (bird food in the winter), Harry Lauder's walking stick (cool, twisty branches) and witch hazel.