[intrepid]

I need to do something with my front yard again. We loved the way it looked when we first started out, but all my red tips got sick and I got tired of dealing with them. Three years in a row was just too much for me.
I pulled them all up and will be going with something else. I would like some ideas from you guys on what you think would look nice?
I’m posting some pictures of what I have now. All the red tips where up against the house all the way across the front. We are thinking of moving the green balls back against the house, but are still undecided on our next move. The ugly sticks against each side of the walkway are my wife’s yellow bells. She likes them, and so they get to stay. They look nice in the spring, summer most of the fall season.
The rock edging can be fixed; my little ones think it is a walkway.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks
Mark

[trees]

First off... where are you located. I see yaupon holly, sago palm, liriope & camellia(?), so you must be in the South.

Second... lay off the pruners. Plants look best when left to attain somewhat of a natural shape. If those ARE camellias I see pruned into spires, you have done that plant a terrible disservice. On second thought, maybe they're ligustrum... in either case they've been badly pruned and it's hard to tell.

Third... lose the snapped edge stone border. Stone edging, when done right, should be subtle and very organic in appearance. This is neither.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's what I see. I think the best advice I can give is that you find a good local landscape designer and employ their services. What you have now is not terribly offensive, but does nothing to complement the house, either, and I think that by having someone that knows the area pick out the right plants for the space and that can give you some advice on proper pruning techniques & other care, you can have a very nice garden. It's a nice home and deserves a nice landscape. Something that can soften the harsh edges, compliment the muted colors of the house and bring some gentle curves will go a long way towards making a difference.

[Fine Edge]

I agree with Jesse.
Please find a respectable stone mason if you are going to have any type of stone border. It looks like your kids not only used it for a walkway but also installed it.

[agla]

I have to agree. Although there is a certain amount of pride that goes along with doing it yourself it the results are tough to acheive when you are trying to learn multiple things at once through the experience of one or two projects.

Look for similar style houses in your area that has a landscape that you love. Approach the homeowner and compliment them on it and find out who did the work. That will give you the name of someone that does what you like, has local experience, is in the right price range for the value of your home, the homeowner will speak well only of a person who they had a good business experience with, and they can deal with your home style.

Remember that you are fixing something you did before. I also remember your pool project, and whether it gave you satisfaction or not, it does not look like a job at the right professional level in keepng with your house. You did good work, but it looks like you or a less experienced design/build company did it.
I don't mean to insult, but just to point out that the satisfaction that you get by doing it yourself clouds what you see. It will not cloud what others see, although your friends are not likely to tell you anything else other than how good it looks knowing that you put your heart and soul into it.

The satisfaction of doing it yourself may well out weigh the results on a personal level. If it does, there is nothing wrong with that and I admire people who enjoy a sense of accomplishment.

But, this is a 99% professional forum and most of us are all about promoting professionalism. That is why we put time and effort into helping each other out at being more professional. Most of us are not into undermining that in any way.

[kinnanscaping]

I see a lot of uniformity and "evenness." There is no color definition, no eye-pleasing numeric proportionality, nor is there enough texture variation. Actually, the texture variation that you have gone with is too severe. You have small, round and soft being invaded by long, thin and sharp. Another area of proportion that you should pay more attention to is height and overall size. You have only accented your sharp corners with tall (approx. 6 ft., I say), narrow, imposing plants that drastically give way to short (as little as 18in in some cases), plump plants. Finally, I think that you need to narrow your plant selection down to just three, maybe four. I count as many as eight or nine different species, including the two tree and their beds. That is simply too much for the eyes to handle. Oh, speaking of the two trees and their beds: the plastic edging is a gross contrast to the white stone border around the house. There is no theme in your front yard. If you can manage all of that on your own, great. I would at least do a LOT of looking and reading if you continue to d-i-y. Otherwise, I would take the kind advice of the others and hire it out.

[Mau]

Where are you located (zone) and what direction is your house facing?

Whatever the tall plants are by the front door (Camellia, Ligustrum, Holly, ?), I think they are too wide for that spot. You need a vertical element there but something that is skinnier than the present plant. (Something 'like' Tiny Tower Italian Cypress.) Those fatter plants would have worked better framing the windows - you have two expanses of brick (one behind the Cycad and the other one is on the right side of the door - that could use the softening effect of a plant.

I agree with 'trees', that stone 'edging' needs to go. I agree with 'kinnanscaping', you need some color and textural variation. And listen to 'agla', his advice is a good way to find a competent landscaper in your area.

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