How about starting with deepening the bed front to back and planting a small tree (at appropriate distance from the house itself) in the middle of the bed in line with the peak. The rest could be whatever low perennials or shrubs work in your zone.

How does your family use the space on that side of the house? Do you spend time there? That could be a good place for little kids and a dog to play because they can't hurt any valuable landscaping. A house doesn't need to be heavily landscaped on all four sides unless you personally need that.

More pictures with how this side relates to views from the rest of lot would be helpful. If the rest of the landscape is appealing to you, photos and descriptions of that would help, as would how you use the yard. Size would help, distance to side property line, any need for privacy (tree/large shrubs).

exactly how many hours a YEAR.. do you spend on looking at the aide of the house.... if the answer is less than never... then dont bother..

i agree.. with a small tree out 15 feet form the house.. to break up the great expanse of the siding... a redbud would be my best suggestion.. but im not sure about z4.. how about a big city name.. to narrow it down for us...

why put in a garden.. when your base premise.. is that you really dont want to work on a garden there... by my definition then.. whats there is just fine...

ken

cecily 7A and TBL from CT That side of the yard doesn't get much use because it's the side facing the main road (I live at the edge of a cul de sac so front door faces the circle, this side of the house faces the thoroughfare ). That's the main reason I'm looking to improve -- it's the side facing the curb with no curb appeal. Plus, I like plants :)

I have probably 40 feet between the house and the road so I have room to work with, including potentially a small tree. Thanks for the suggestion, laceyvail 6A, WV! It's not a busy road so not too worried about privacy.

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 Sounds like my post hit a nerve with you but please rest assured, I spend a lot of time and do a lot of work in my yard/garden and understand that adding more landscaping is more work :) I'm looking forward to it! Here's some info on 4B and thanks for your help!

More pictures of my yard on the way!

Sorry these are all mostly close-ups besides the rainy shot at the end. Camera on phone isn't working so I can only upload pictures I already have.

Walking around my yard starting at the right side of my OG picture...

• Round the corner to see the raspberry bushes then pergola area
• Round the corner again to see the little red shed and the lilacs (overgrown bushes in the hammock picture)
• Round the corner again to the front of my house so driveway, a couple mature trees, and some landscaping on either side of my front door (no pictures, sorry)
• Tour ends at the rose bush, which is on the left side of my OG picture

Congratulations! You hit the jackpot - that's a lovely garden. Are you in an area that receives so much snow that planting evergreens for winter interest is pointless (the shrubs would be buried under snow)?

I like the idea of a couple of small trees on the side of the house - we have several antique apple trees that are low maintenance so I'd use semi-dwarf fruit trees there. I have an acquaintance who removed her grape vines because birds get the ripe fruit unless you net the vines but squirrels chew up the netting so it became a hassle.

Your yard and landscape are so pretty. The shapes in my concept render represent...

• Square brown rectangles are an open Grapevine fence similar to a vineyard along the wall but leave about 4 feet of access behind it. Extending past the wall and built about 4 feet tall.
• In the center of the fence -between the two windows- your squared or arched Trellised Arbor, about 8 feet tall or taller than the windows, as a pass-thru entrance. Not the main entrance..just a garden entrance.
• A birdbath centered under the arbor as a focal point
• Stepping stones under the arbor but around both sides of the birdbath.
• Four dwarf fruit trees in the lawn centerd and squared on the birdbath.
• Pink blobs are flowering perennials.
• Lime green scribble are the vines
• Window boxes with flowers
• Some taller green shrubs in the current flower bed next to the house in the space between the windows.

Hows the budget?

i d like to see more stewartias on the planet. it is a fine tree- I've never seen a pest, the bark is lovely, the flowers are pretty and its crowning glory is the autumn foliage that turns gold,yellow, red .

It has never had winter damage.

but of course check hardiness.

it would not be cheap, but you could enjoy it during a long life in that house.

houze wouldnt let me load a photo. ill try

again in a little while

i think you need classy trees to go with yourr classy garden

NO GREEN GIANT ARBS !

True....a shade tree with a free-form garden bed beneath it always works in front. Add a free-form flower bed along the wall as well.

Not familiar with Stewartias or anything else in your Zone.

If you have room iin front you could show case a beautuful tree there.

place couple of others on the side,

how would feel about a well behaved vines?

the wall is begging for a clematis or three.