oops, forgot to add images... concept 1

concept 2

Does your insurance company or the state require certain setbacks for vegetation for better fire safety? See, for example, https://readyforwildfire.org/fire-safety-laws/

Do you have any other views? Seeing your walkway and the approach to the front door is always a critical one.

Do you currently have Oak trees? I know there are many kinds but our native one in a Southern climate is extremely messy with leaves dropping. I'd check that out unless you are already familiar.

@apple_pie_order great question, I haven't heard of any requirements but I am trying to keep larger trees further from the house. For planting areas alongside the house, I'll use stone.

@RedRyder yes, please see sketches attached (these are just the trees, I haven't bothered with ground cover yet)

I lean towards the oaks because I like their visual presence. I have a sycamores lining other areas of the street, and by comparison these crepe myrtles feel small.

@kcooz07 no, we don't currently have any. I've heard they can be messy. I am looking at Holly Oaks. Most of the homes in my area have redwoods and sycamores. The redwoods don't do well because we're quite inland and the sycamores are not the best looking and are very messy (between pollen and leaf drop). We thought about taking them out but they're mature. We also have Chinese Pistache and the crepe myrtles -- all drop a ton of leaves. I'm trying to bring larger, evergreen options into the front yard so that the yard doesn't look so bare in the winter.

I am never alover of trees that hide a house and big trees take big water and for sure at the start when getting established . I love trees but now when thry dwarf the home . I know Ca. has strict water issues so not sure about your exact area but I would look for plants that are bit less water hungry . I am an avid gardener but not a anal one I grow things I love and try to grow what is happy in my environment . So lots of perennials some evergreen and some tress that bear fruit or are just pretty most of the year. I help people with their gardens ( not a landscape designer ) but for me a garden is about what makes you happy . I like decks more than grass I do not like paved areas that rob trees of water so not patios in many situations . I advise you sit down with the designer and really think about the mature size of what want not how it looks now . 10 yars is a long time and things can get out of hand quickly . Gardens IMO are not an instant thing but done right evolve over time

We don't know what your yard actually looks like. You're asking us to choose between renderings, none of which I like. Why? Your house abuts wildlands and open grasslands so I would oppose planting any more trees at all.

Any future buyers will be turned off by all the maintenance that all those trees incur to say nothing of the fire hazard they represent.

We inherited crepe Myrtle’s and they’re messy as heck. I would never plant them.

@tracefloyd thats fair - we love trees though. we have a lot of open space and somewhat of a blank canvas. when we moved in there were almost no trees and the front of the house looked bare, and got very hot with afternoon sun beaming directly onto the front of the house. there was a lot of grass and little areas with shrubs, but the water bill was atronomical so all of the grass came out and we lost a lot of that visual structure. i was hoping a few oaks and some grass clusters might suffice in reducing water and maintenance while looking intentional and clean in design.

In addition to leaning towards what is visually pleasing to you…..please consider planting native trees. Where I live, a native oak can support over 500 species from moths to squirrels and in between! A Bradford pear for example? 0 species.

Sorry for being blunt so just plant smaller trees then. I like the last photo with two samller trees. Your local nursery will know which trees stay green all year. They willl drop leaves all year but oh well. I think green in the winter would be nice like you say. Maybe Dwarf Magnolia for flowers or a Madrone for the nice bark?