No way to help you without:

Pictures

An idea of budget constraints

A general geographic location

Ah pic didn’t post.. see below:

Northeast

Northeastern United States, I assume. Do you know your planting zone?

The asphalt that continues into the foreground - is the picture-taker standing in the street so that the front yard is 25‘ deep or so? How far does the property extend from side to side? Just in general. 50’? 100’? An acre or more? Trying to figure out if you need trees or not.

NJ… I don’t know the planting zone. Yes I took pic standing in the street - 10 feet on each side.. the front lawn is about 30 ft.- the property is 40x110. There was previously 2 or 3 trees between properties just over property line that the folks next door took down. Here’s a better view of left side.

NJ… I don’t know the planting zone. Yes I took pic standing in the street - 10 feet on each side.. the front lawn is about 30 ft.- the property is 40x110. There was previously 2 trees between properties just over property line that the folks next door took down.

Full front view

Would you consider removing the umbrella tree (weeping cherry?) to the left?

What's your enjoyment of gardening. If not great, get some evergreen flowering shrubs for the foundation and put a flowering ground cover under your umbrella-shaped tree. A tree which I would not remove. It's probably lovely when it flowers unless it is overpruned. I'm not a fan of that shape, so would let it grow more.

The cherry is definitely overpruned. It would be gorgeous if left to weep naturally and not given that bowl haircut. If it is the work of the 'landscaper' I'd doubt their abilities.

If there was budget, I'd get rid of the brown shake shingles. They look burnt or moldy.

I would get 3 big decorative pots that fit your decor. Place 2 on the left and one on the right and grow annuals in it. You can change annuals every year until you find a good combination. Just sprinkle some inexpensive seeds in early spring and maybe water.

Everyone thank you. Trying to address all in one response because I’m at work…. On the cherry tree shape…it wasn’t pruned like that, the deer have nibbled it into that shape, I guess that’s as high as they could reach.. it was actually beautiful before the deer got to it this summer which is why I plan to keep it. I’m looking for low/no maintenance deer resistant plants/bush ideas (other than typical landscaper annual trim requirements). Thank you for the pics to those that shared. Also agree on the shingles which are half weathered terribly because of how the sun hits them I hate them but for todays budget/immediate need we are starting with the landscaping for now.

Sigrid I have zero interest in or enjoyment from gardening.

In that case (no interest in gardening), I’d find a trusted locally owned nursery and see what they advise. They’ll know your soil type and other requirements best. There should be lots of good choices for less upkeep — be sure to take pictures to show them.

A bit of landscaping will look so nice with the house.

The only things that deer never eat that I'm aware of are daffodils and hyacinth. Give you some color in April.