I would remove the bed altogether and increase the size of the landing to the full width of the porch. It really needs relaying anyway because the slabs are not level. Put two big pots of plants either side of the door if you want some greenery there.

I actually wouldn’t mind doing that but that will be a bit costly with getting concrete work done.

Remove the fake topiary and do the extra concrete and huge pots filled with seasonal plants are great and fun to change up for different seasonal stuff . I would aslo do some more palnts in between the shrubs on the right . That additional space for the entry with instantly improve the welcome feeling to the home too

Azaleas for a splash of color.

You have a terrible landscape plan. You can keep the walkway, but develop 'serpentine' shaped beds with annual plantings that come back every year. You home needs a much softer look of plants adjacent to it.

Some visual

"annual plantings that come back every year. " I think you mean perennials. Annuals don't come back.

I think you need to bite the bullet and do this properly. Cement work needs to happen. The walkway has two sections to the stairs. You should have a cement pad that reaches from the garage wall over to the corner where the window wall is. You might need to lose one of the front bushes too. The boxwood, future pots is making your entrance tight. Open it up so it's more welcoming by extending the cement pad.

Thanks for the visuals. I don’t think I like the black door lol

I’m not sure why they did the cement pad this way. Almost all of our homes have it in this development.

If your pad/porch landing is common for your area, it is not a problem.

However, the landing stepping off from the porch would be improved with walkable gravel like you have now but at the same grade as the pad.

Visually and for practical purposes, it just seems to make sense if there is a forgiving surface there if you misstep.

The gravel would end at the landing and not continue to the driveway.

The plants on each side also seem to create an obstacle course. I don't have the software but the pots rendering by Celery is nice.

I added a Navy door, a black light fixture and house numbers.

Here is my sketch of my concept. Landscaping TBD.

I would just put a pot there and put some annuals in it every year. You don't want plants pressing up against your house. It invites moisture and insects into the house.

Very true. Right now it’s all the way against the house and practically against the wall.

Remove that shrub completely and don’t plant anything there. Never should have been planted in that small space, distracting from your front door.

When you can afford it, fix that sloping concrete pad. If it’s not cracked, the low end can be lifted to make it level. Around here, that process is called mudjacking.

Okay. No cracks. Someone did just tell me they can do a 2’ x 5’ space for $250. I’m wondering if that is extremely low because I do not want anything cracking.

Sounds like the entire neighborhood has the same 'builder grade' front cement slab. I think it will be worth the price to upgrade it a bit. The black door looked better than I expected--but then I was thinking the side lights would go black too.

Take out the boxwood and fake topiary as suggested. Then work with a garden designer to develop a planting bed on the right that enhances the house such as @lisedv shows. That would be gorgeous and would soften all the straight lines of the house.

Consider painting your door rust orange.

Rustic Entry · More Info

Or a blue like this:

Home Staging Hingham, Scituate, South Shore, MA · More Info

If you must have something on the porch, get a beautiful tall planter and put in seasonal plants, natural branches, etc.

Holiday Container Gardens · More Info

Containers for the winter · More Info

Very nice suggestions. Here is what the area looks like from the door.

Just started raining and is very windy so forgive the mess. Plus we haven’t started spring clean up yet.

Breaking up the concrete and replacing it with pavers would be my choice. For this small amount of concrete, it's fun to rent a jackhammer and break it up.

Ya that just looks skimpy and difficult. Pavers/cement doesn't matter it's the size that's the issue. That bush on the left in your most recent picture. It won't be long until it obstructs what little walkway you have. The fix doesn't have to be expensive. Pretty DIY friendly job really.

Yeah the more we discuss it the more I’m irritated by it lol I wish the top slab extended out further. If I add concrete I have to add a total of t4 squares. I think they are like 3ft by 3ft.

Correct add a total of 3 square of concrete *

If you don't want to enlarge the pad with concrete, then backfill the low areas on each side with dirt to the same level as the pad and put pavers on those sections.

That way that first step is even all the way across.

Or just place large pots on the porch to direct foot traffic onto the pad.

But the hedge looks like it snags clothing so either way, replace it with more pots as rendered by Celery.

The hedge is a mess. I think it’s winter burn. I’m going to have someone remove it tomorrow.

Picture from the door. I saw some new green leaves so I’m debating if I should dig up the entire trunk or just get some nice flower pots. For now we won’t do concrete but maybe next spring/summer.

"that just looks skimpy and difficult." Really couldn't agree more. I think you need to get on and do it properly asap to make an inviting and well built entrance to your "home sweet home". It will never look good with tinkering.

That will take time I will have to go through the HOA and township for approval when it comes to the concrete work.

Getting some rocks and going to the nursery today. Also getting some large planters.