Home foundation landscaping redo

[domesticdiva]

So my hubby pulled up all these shrubs today! They were planted way too close to the house and way too close together and were really starting to look sad.

I found some smaller shrubs that I like but have not purchased yet. They are:

Silver Lining Pyracantha
http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/p ... cantha.php

Abelia Kaleidoscope
http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/p ... abelia.php

Would they look good together? How should I plant them? Groups of 3 for each? Im stumped!

The shrubs with the red X are gone now. The Euonymus on the far right will be pulled too. The aborvitae is staying. Thanks for any ideas!

[rainbowgardener]

Neither of them are shrubs that I am very familiar with, but since you haven't gotten an answer, I will see what I can do. They both seem like nice choices, colorful and evergreen.

I always have a problem with traditional foundation plantings, which are a narrow strip of shrubbery in a straight line, like soldiers. It's not you, it is how it has traditionally been done, but it is very un-natural looking and to me kind of boring. My suggestion would be to widen your foundation bed, move the plantings a little farther out from the house (which is better for your house), make the front edge curved, then put some lower growing flowers in front of the shrubbery.

Planting in groups of three is always good. Think about asymmetrical. Think about mixing things together, not a group of this here and a group of that there.

[LA47]

I have had the variegated abelia before and really liked it. I agree with RBG in that the bed should be deeper and a variety of plants. Can you tye the wayward branch of the arborvitae up for a more symmetrical look?

[domesticdiva]

I didnt even think about tying up the branch! Its been bugging me forever. I wanted to cut it but Im pretty sure that would be a mistake. Do I just tye it up with rope?

Ive started on the bed in front. Ive made it larger with curves and planted the shrubs much further from the house. However, I did plant 3 of a kind in a row...oops. I planted 3 of the pyracantha together and then 2 of the abelia in front of them. So it kinda breaks if up from looking too much like soldiers...I think.

Ive still got alot to do. I'll tuck some flowers in there at some point. Thanks for your help!