HELP with front yard of 60's Split level

I am having a hard time figuring out what to do with our new houses current landscaping. We are planing on updating the exterior siding, windows, and doors with a more modern look.. possible a red cedar color and texture. We have found some siding that is vinyl but looks like real cedar boards..
anyways I need help on how we should go about modernizing our landscape in the front.
Any pic or suggestions would be great. We are into kinda a more modern look.. somewhat asian or zen inspired.. we are in Michigan zone 4-5

You wil probably want at least one of the Japanese Maples.Perhaps a zen inspired fountain,some very modern large pots.Stones are important in zen gardens and a statue if you like that look.

Lynn

Another novice gardener here. But this house rests atop a little hill, it appears to me, rather than on flat land. I cannot tell for certain, but it appears so. That so, I would be compelled to "split-level" the land as well. Such layering might offer the opportunity to plant a large bed of Star Jasmine or some other such layer at one level. Perhaps ___________ driveway, then a step up to ______________ low shrubs, then a step up to Jasmine _____________, then to house level, etc etc. Thinking aloud. What other plants to use would best be addressed by some of the more experienced gardeners. Good luck. It's a classic little split-level. Linda

I think you need a tall vase shaped tree one the left. One of the new elms might be nice.

Who knows if my idea of "modern zen" matches yours, but when I look at the picture of your house I see lots of natural stone being added to the landscape. I agree with the suggestions made by others already. I think a water feature, Japanese maples, split-levels, and maybe some dramatic and tall vases on the porch.

You might want to consider adding little garden statues such as a buddha or maybe some of those stone lanterns. If you feel so inclined, I think a stone bench on the side of the yard might be nice.

One thing about Asian design in nature is that they believe it should be assymetrical so you'll never see two rocks side by side. They are always grouped in odd numbers like 3 or 5 rocks.

Here's a link to a front yard makeover that might provide some more ideas:
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_home_ext_before_after/article/0,1797,HGTV_3731_5617844_01,00.html

I was thinking this episode of curb appeal was real similiar.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_68953,00.html

most landscapers have u - welll, maybe not most- take a sheet of paper, draw a circle, or bubble, for the house, a line for the drive. is your interest in what u see out the window? or what u want to show passersby? if u have time there r gorgeous pics in Home Depot books on different ideas, tiers, or even slopes with hollows for outdoor ground pits-n yes, u say mich n i shiver, coldscapes, for the waiting months, before the massive hard blooming spring. Colored lights, or color lighted rocks, bonsai type trees, vines, or a winding dry rockbed with a tiny table tucked into a cul de sac to sit n enjoy the fruits of previous labors. These ideas or themes can be sketched out on paper the same as these gardeners do for specific plants they wish to remember where they left them in the ground...tea anyone? surrounded by the stuff of peace n musings?

Hi there,
Your post actually compelled me to register here (though I've been meaning to anyway!) as we have very similar-looking houses. I have a garage/driveway on the lower level though, and I think more steps up to the front door. We just bought it, and I want to change a lot, but I do like how the landscaping was done around the entry way. It has been terraced with natural rock retaining walls, about 7 feet deep at the door level, and there's another bed 7-10 feet deep below that. This is like what TwinCol suggested. It softens the approach to the house and "nestles" it into the landscape.

For your house I'd suggest a shrub about 2/3 the height of the roofline to go at the left corner, and plants would decrease in height towards the door to draw attention to it.. At the other (tall) corner on the right, you could have a tree to soften the corner if you like. A rock garden on the slope in the foreground would look really nice too. But take your time to think about what you'd like and what will work for your property.

I'm a big fan of the asian inspired modern look as well. Moss, rock, ornamental grasses, bamboo (in pot?), weeping Japanese maple, dwarf conifers... wish I had more $$ for landscaping! There's some good advice in the posts above, I say look at lots of pictures for inspiration. Learn to do a scale drawing and and make a lot of photocopies so you can draw ideas on top of it. Pick the plants last - start with bed shapes and patterns. When you pick plants, start with the trees and shrubs, working your way down to the perennials and groundcovers. Can you tell I'm taking a landscape design class :) Would love to hear how your plans go.

Anyways, I'll attach a photo of the terraced bed along the steps so you can see what I mean.

Ahh you guys are great! Absolutely wonderful, sorry it took me soo long to respond recently engaged as well so trying to work out the whole wedding planning thing! I love our new house and so far we started a few things last summer but unfortunatley the cold snuck in on us before we were able to finish a lot of our work. In the back yard you might now believe it but we found about 50 feet of a nice curving cement sidwewalk walkway that was covered in about 18" of dirt that had just washed down the sloping back yard.. actually one of the only places we even had grass. We have a sort of gardeners shed almost like a big closet built into the back side of our house with big old fashion double doors.. I was putting stuff in it and stuck my shovel in the ground and thought I had struck a rock, come to find out it was our new sidewalk.. after much digging it turned out to be lovely and added a little inspiration of ideas for the back yard which is definatly in need of a retaining wall of some kind! I absolutely love some of the ideas you guys are throwing at me..
We started a bit of redo on the front. As we are in michigan some things work for our area others are a no go.. I am learning more and more about our zone and actually had a vegetable garden with much success over the last summer.
We started a raised area in front of the brick planter boxes on the front sides of the entry stairs, using natural rock and boulders taken from some friends gravel pit. This is a pretty common look here in michigan. Not so much "asian" but i am learing to like it. I will post pics - and love your insight, thanks a ton!

Congratulations! I will answer you more fully later.As far as I am concerned,any rock or boulder can be placed where it gives an Asian or Zen affect.
Lynn