Need help with landscaping design ideas - Zone 8 and lots of shade

Question

Our 1970's ranch is in dire need of updating. EDIT: I've added a few more photos to show a broader image. After repairing some wood rot, we plan to replace the front door with a door with glass (oval glass insert or rectangular??). Also we plan to paint the house white and keep the shutters garnet/burgundy. What should we do with the front landscaping. We are in zone 8 and the house faces east so we get morning pockets of sun, but mostly shade. Also, we are using small stepping stones for a walkway, would love inexpensive ideas for upgrading - there's close to 100 feet of walkway from the driveway to front door! 
 The azalea to the left of the fireplace will need to stay as it hides the well pump/tank. I would like to remove the two camellias by the road as I think they hide the house from the road too much. Also, it looks like the dogwood on the right growing out of the azaleas is about to die and we may be taking it out.

Kathie taylor · Answer

I 'm not sure your zone is really a 9. The map I just looks at says zone 7. It keeps changing. I would go to a nursery. See what they have and what the recommend. Remember you get frost and sometimes snow. You don't have to buy their plants, but 'pick their brain'! Also depends on how much weeding you want to do. I would make a large shaped P on the right and include a sitting bench , If that's a fireplace on the left, bring that bed out further. I would use impatiens...they are inexpensive and showy, and then buy my plants as I could afford them. It's good to wait, lots of times neighbors share their plants. Good luck and post a final pic!

Teresa Krauterbluth · Answer

what state do you live in?

Teresa Krauterbluth · Answer

Living in Tallahasse is a bit of a challange .Like the other person commented ,be sure to check cold hardiness ,one plant for lining your walk is lirope,it clumps growth is at maturrity is apprx.2ft. high.every few yrs divide.crotons due well also.I'm in zone 9B & we get frost once in a while. Shop for a Nursery ,not home depot.

Kathy · Answer

I would use plants that have light color flowers and some on their leaves. Hosta would work great in your zone where you only get some early sun. I think that a white flower garden would be beautiful.

Sue D · Answer

acer palmatum- Japanese maple tree, peonies, daphne, azaela, dogwood shrub or tree, hydrangea, camelia,gardenias-toward the southeast.

Jeanette S · Answer

The first thing I would do is look for a lighter color on the windows and shutters to cut back on the darkness...maybe a lighter but brighter brown. Then trim back the old bushes on the right and plant something like variegated liriope (border grass) between these to fill in. You also need to plant a larger bush next to the chimney where you have that blank space. Put out a few Gerber Daisies for color. Another good plant is Cordyline which is a maroon spike like plant...love them. Hostas also do well in shade...they would look very pretty to fill in!

Liliana Wells · Answer

I would go with an oval glass insert to soften the square edges of the house. Look at what your neighbors are doing in terms of plants. Also contact your extension office for ideas on what local plants would be appropriate for your area.

Susan L. Busch · Answer

Yes if you keep shutters paint them lighter, that is the same plan for my home....and don't forget the front door.... You'll have an entirely different home. Don't forget to post after pictures....

Marlene Haigh · Answer

I'm also in zone 9 facing east. I have Lantana (orange) and crotons in front that do great in partial shade. Gives lots of color and low maintenance.

Cyndi Moore Tippett · Answer

I would lighten up everything pertaining to the house.  I would paint the house white, the shutters a pale olive green.  I would put in a winding walkway to the drive way and even put a small patio off the front stoop for a sitting area.  I would reseed with a shade loving grass seed to fill in the bare spots.  I would extend the flower beds to a depth of twice what you have now and then fill them up with shade loving plants that you love.

Carol B · Answer

It looks like your shrub/flower beds curve, rather than being straight. I would emphasize the curve even more so by extending the beds further into the lawn. In my neck of the woods, it is popular to put a large star on the house. I think that would look nice on your chimney. Hostas come in hundreds of varieties. I've gotten mine for free through freecycle.org. They multiply quickly. Some varieties get very large. Good luck. Have fun. You have a diamond in the rough.

Nancy · Answer

I live in Zone 4. I went with all native seeds and built flower gardens in my front and back yard with perennials that come up every year. Very low maintenance. This is very inexpensive way to add color and texture and a natural look.

Tamara McMillan · Answer

I think it is great that you already have plans for a new front door as that change will make a huge difference. Everyone is suggesting lighter shutters and I must agree but if you wish to keep the same maybe a trailing sprig of Spring time color on the shutters would help. . . I would get plant 'Starts' from neighbors and friends if you wish to go economical. Hostas and lilies do very well. I would also plant a full yet low growing tree somewhere in place of the taller shrubs you have under your windows. Japanese Maple is a good choice or perhaps an Evergreen? (One which does not get much taller than 6 ft)

169756 · Answer

I focused on inexpensive. So I suggest a trip to Kmart/Walmart late in the season. I found 5 little shaggy bushes that I can't remember the name of :( that I just love. Put 3 of them right in front of our porch. They cost $1.75 each. A great deal. They were at Walmart, back in a corner, looking neglected. Might be a good way to get several plants for next to nothing. We also put in a big rock garden to cut down on lawn. That was a little pricier due to the boulders we had brought in.

Nancy · Answer

Talk to your county extension agent about planting natives. Be friendly to the bees! Try to eliminate as much 'mowing' surface as possible. Natives will provide LESS work. I also agree about lightening up shutters/windows. Do a sunny yellow or burnt orange.

Megan Smith · Answer

Search online updating a70s ranch. There are many sites that might be helpful....houzz and HGTV for starters.  Color. I'd use a warm color on the shutters and trim like yellow or some Orange tone.  For the door is suggest either just painting it the same warm color in a gloss finish. I don't think an oval window would be appropriate...too Victorian. I have a ranch and the doors are a 6 pane on the upper half.  I love the light and the look.  I think craftsman touches mix well with ranch.  Consider a gravel pathway like crushed granite.also extend the flower beds and maybe a vine or tall narrow airy 
tree in front of the chimney. Lots of possibilities.  Can't wait to see your progress. Have fun.

Cherie · Answer

Lighten up the house as already suggested, but I'd plant some crepe myrtles or some tall bushes to keep the house from looking like a long train. Just break up the overall silhouette with some trees or something, as I stated, colorful.

Joanna Carrisal · Answer

I would paint the house a light yellow and the shutters black.  A winding flagstone walkway in the front with a winding flower bed to match.  Take out the existing bushes.  Replace with perennial flowering shrubs.  Along the walkway I'd plant all types of lilies, tulips, and perennial flowers.  If you could find a few old wagon wheels and incorporate them along the walkway, it'd tie in the ranch style of your home.

Myrna Engle · Answer

Start with the long low ranch house needs. First yank up all foundation plants and move them forward. Make large flowerbeds in graceful curves. Study placement of windows and doors. Place plants in accord with season, for example, plant a graceful evergreen on either side of entry. Not to tall are things will be out of balance again. After you have planted, generously apply mulch to help with water useage. Heavy mulch prevents weeds as well. As you work outward from entry put a tall plant at each end. It needs to be columnar and not much higher than roof edge. This type of planting gets more light, and adds grace to a plain front. Use brightly flowering or colored perennials. They show well year around.

Buster Evans · Answer

So many possibilities !! That yard is a virtual canvas waiting for your touch... What do you like colors etc.. Do you want less grass and more plants? Trees? a birdbath ? So many ways you could choose to go. Use your imagination and do it in stages... it doesnt all have to happen at once.. If you put something in that you later dont like how it turned out you can change it.. 
 I never get enough of flowers.. I love all kinds but the simpler the better.. petunias, are a variety of colors to add... I could send you datura seeds they bloom evening and night nice white trumpet type flower smell so good... They are poisonous if eaten but ive never had a problem with animals or anything eating them...
 There is so much you could do with your place... Just dont limit yourself...

Meri C · Answer

O my gosh, how I would love to have this challenge! Yes, lighten up the house color and the shutters, but as suggested above, I would not go with olive green anything. It's too dark. But, depending on YOUR taste, definitely paint is the least expensive way to go. Consider a light pastel color. You can paint your house in shades of whatever color you choose for your shutters, but don't go too dark. You might even consider a light gray on the house with red shutters. And then paint your front door white.

The first thing I would do however is do as suggested by Myrna; rip out all foundation plants. But, before putting anything back in the ground, I personally would like to see a perimeter porch. A covered porch all the way around the front to the side, maybe even to the backyard. This would give you more opportunity to plant vines & shrubs, breaking up the length of the house without making it look like a chop block. Paint the porch a light color. Could be white, or just a lighter color of whatever you decide to paint the house, but DO NOT paint it dark.

You can put the foundation plants back in, but not necessarily in the same places. I think I would like to see some pots, on the porch and in front of it to help soften the straight lines of the house/porch. You can put in hanging plants along the railing, or along the eves of the house.

Put in a walkway to the front door, breaking up the large expanse of lawn; give the walkway curves, like a river, flowing 'naturally'. You want to avoid hard lines. You can then plant along the edges of the walkway, natural flowing flora, plants that will 'break up' the hard features of an expansive lawn. Also, add boulders that give the plants something to use as a backdrop. You can do it in stages.

But, first & foremost, find out what plants grow best in your area. I would consider tall grasses and vines. Maybe some hostas if they will grow and stay alive through the winter months. If not, put them in pots and bring them indoors during winter months if you desire to plant them. Remember, it takes time for plants to mature, so find out the final height your plants will be and plan accordingly. If you can't wait for color, plant some annuals around the empty areas while your permanent perenials are growing.

You can put in some yard art like a bed frame for some flora to grow in, maybe a windmill, or old door, or window, framing the flora...whatever. I would also recommend putting in a drip system to water your new yard. That way you're not stuck at home watering when you could be out doing other things like shopping, or meeting with friends.

Yes, pictures! We want to see what you decide to do. Pictures before, during & after would be splendid!

Barbara Turner · Answer

Sorry, but I'd go with soft butter cream yellow house with green or blue shutters. Then I'd get a Craftsman solid core door with a stained glass insert with a native flower motif style - tempered glass by the way - and as far as the landscaping? First I'd lose all the shrubs, replant what I could and like several suggestions, call your county extension office for advice on native plantings such as succulents which maintain themselves pretty much as far as water goes, they find their own better than most and retain it better, then I'd get some Hosta varieties for morning shade areas, they'll be lovely and soften it all. There are about 6,000 yes 6,000 varieties and sooooooo many genus families of Hosta you won't run out of ideas. Christmas Hosta is a nice little tight one that you can use and scatter as a sidewalk border fill-in along with some scattered annuals. Also a curved sidewalk for grace and elegance and pea gravel areas would also be nice. Keep us posted. Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Karen Hensley · Answer

I would paint the house a sage with light cream shutters and a barn red door.

Paulette Montoya · Answer

Look at all that lawn! Wow! I would definitely make a patio off the front. What I am doing is when I see a landscape that I really love on a house I take a pic and download to my computer for use later. In my front yard I have astroturf and a putting green (previous homeowners were into golf) so we are planning demolition too! For your place I also envision a winding path with lights from the front door. Good luck and beautiful home!

KrysFL · Answer

Modern home have lighter trim/shutters and darker paint. I'd you go darker burgundy on shutters and white on house you are keeping it dated regardless of what you do with the landscaping.. I would pick modern colors and do like a Grey - beige wall and light white/cream shutter... then I would do a layered landscape in the front... so main shrub in back and then smaller shrub directly in front of it.

Cyndi Webb · Answer

I like Barbara Turners color suggestion. Foliage flowers should be bright colors like pinks, purple and blues with a few white scattered for depth. These colors will pop! Draw the eyes in.....:)

Dana Corby · Answer

It does look awfully dark! An easy way to lighten up the facade is to paint the underside of the eaves with semi-gloss white; what light there is will reflect onto the elevation. If you really want to keep the dark shutters and trim, give them a coat of clear glaze -- Varathane or whatever -- to make them pop. The new door is a great idea; personally I'd go with the oval glass to offset all the rectangles. And the person who suggested some sort of medallion -- a star or whatever -- had a great idea; I'd paint it the same color as the trim and put it on that big chimney box. I agree with the other folks here, that you need way bigger flower beds. Can't see the existing walkway, but if the new one's going to be that long I'd also make it fairly wide, so it doesn't come out looking like you laid a string on your lawn. Pavers come in so many sizes and shapes these days, and are by far the easiest way to lay hardscape. Low plantings on both sides of the pat merging into the wider foundation beds would also help turn a simple pathway into a grand entrance.
Please post befores & afters when you're done!

Joe Abbet · Answer

OK. I'll put my two cents in about your front path. This is usually the main access to your house. A stepping stone path is more appropriate as a secondary path. I'd suggest coming in (to be inexpensive) with a pea gravel or decomposed granite path edged with steel edging. As money becomes available, I'd replace that with a concrete path (the cheapest hard surface) or you might scavenge for used brick or replace the gravel with Pavestone a little at a time (available at Home Depot or Lowes. I have older and disabled visitors that come to my house. An easy, safe travel path is desirable, even for us, as we age. It will be money well-spent to work towards a more serviceable front path.

Ellen H · Answer

You could leave the small stepping stones and widen the path with pea gravel. We did ours and it looks great. To keep the stknea from escaping the design, just use plastic edging.

Carmen · Answer

a wider stone path - i I like crush gravel with inset pavers. Following the path a narrow , garden bed of ornamental grass, and society garlic. One or two cape myrtle trees, with an island of mulch and potted plants you can change or bring in during cold season

Need help with landscaping design ideas - Zone 8 and lots of shade

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Need help with landscaping design ideas - Zone 8 and lots of shade

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