Please give us a hint of your location (nearest big city & state) so we understand your climate.

Where do visitors park to access the main entrance?

When you are indoors looking out the windows are there any fantastic views that you want to accent? Are there any unsightly views that you'd like to screen?

Do you need any functional areas in front (a sitting area perhaps)or are you interested in curb appeal only?

Some option

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We are in Montreal Canada and live in a bi-generation home. The entrance you see on the picture in the main entrance to both homes. Our parking in on the right side of the house and my son’s parking is on the left side with the garage. Ideally we would like to have a walkway that’s leads from the left to the right in order that my son’s family can use the main entry. Our main view is at the back of the house, we live on farmland. I included a few pictures, left side of the house(son’s entrance with garage) our backyard view and a picture of the side of the home where we also plan on do8ng some landscape to add personality to the home. We are in our sixties, would like to minimum upkeep.
I do love what you have done, thank you

Well, if it were my home, the first thing I'd want to do is to plant a shrub/tree border for privacy from the road. Then I'd plant trees for shade; the house is baking in the sun. For morning shade, plant trees (at appropriate distance) to the E/SE. Afternoon shade from the hottest sun of the day plant to W/SW. To layer shade, plant smaller, understory trees between large trees and house/patio/deck/whatever. For low maintenance, plan for groundcovers around and between trees.

Laceyvail 6A
thank you very much providing your imput, much appreciated. I like your idea of planting shrubs or trees for privacy.

The existing red leaved tree (crabapple imo) would form a good anchor point for a mixed shrubbery across the frontage. It seems to be happy so I'd use the species again around the yard. There's a wide variety of flower and fruit colours. But it looks as if whoever spread the topsoil has buried the root flare of the crab

You need to pull that soil back from the trunk to expose the point where it widens out to the roots.

floraluk2
The tree has been there for over 40 years and it is beautiful. Good point regarding the topsoil around the tree however we’ve already laid the sod. Would it be a good idea to remove the grass and soil around the tree?

If there's an entrance door on the garage side, I'd prefer to use that if I park there. For a separation from the road, I start with a berm with ground cover. Allow for drainage between the house and berm.

Dan1888 , yes there is an entrance which was supposed to be used to bring in groceries however they have been using it everyday. We just wanted to make a walkway for their visitors to use. We usually get allot of snow and the side entrance leads straight into their kitchen

What laceyveil said about planting trees along the streetside. The side of the house seems so very exposed, almost like a lady with her skirt tail caught up in her underpants. An unexpected and unfortunate view.

Clever blending of varied heights of trees and shrubbery can make it look better as well as direct attention toward the driveway and front door.

Yes, remove the grass and soil around the tree.

Floraluk2 Thank you

little bug , lol, i get it