As you last saw a few weeks ago, we removed our old screen door and painted the entry door a vivid lipstick red. After that, we also pulled down the scalloped header and loved the cleaner look it gave our porch. But Project Pimp My Porch is far from finished. The front walkway still needs to be relaid because the existing jagged slate looks uneven and dated. While we’re gathering the energy and time to widen and level that path, I started on another necessary piece of the makeover: front landscaping.

The azaleas in our yard are stunning when they bloom for those few glorious weeks in spring, but they require regular pruning right after the flowers fade. That’s the window when they recover fastest and maintain a neat shape. I spent a morning trimming each shrub back the recommended few inches, then decided to take a bolder step we’d been discussing for two years: drastically reshaping the three bushes on either side of the steps.

I hacked them back hard enough that six large piles of trimmed branches and leaves were left on the lawn when I finished. It felt dramatic, but it needed to be done. Those massive azalea mounds looked incredible for about three weeks, yet for the rest of the year they behaved like a continuous wall of green that hid the porch railing and flattened the house’s façade. Reducing their size opened up the entrance, restored the visibility of our porch, and instantly made the front of the house feel taller and more updated.

With the oversized shrubs toned down, the house’s architectural details are visible again. The porch no longer feels swallowed by foliage, and the overall curb appeal improved immediately. The azaleas will recover and fill in over time, but we’ll be vigilant about regular maintenance so they never again obscure our porch railings or dominate the front garden year-round. Pruned properly, these shrubs will still reward us with vibrant spring blooms while contributing a more balanced structure for the rest of the seasons.

Beyond cutting back the azaleas, this opening up of space creates new landscaping possibilities. We now have room to add seasonal annuals for color pops, choose low-maintenance perennials to add texture, or introduce small ornamental grasses and groundcovers to soften the hard edges around the walkway. Thoughtful layering—mixing evergreen structure with flowering shrubs and colorful annuals—will give the front yard visual interest throughout the year and improve the home’s market-friendly curb appeal.

The next major task is the walkway. Replacing the jagged slate with a wider, level path will not only increase safety and accessibility but also complement the refreshed porch and plantings. Once my arms recover from this pruning session, I’ll persuade John to help with the demolition and relay. For now, seeing the porch reopened and the house looking more inviting is a satisfying intermediate result.

If you’re tackling a similar front-porch refresh, consider prioritizing plant maintenance before hardscape changes. Trimming oversized shrubs and removing visual barriers can transform curb appeal quickly and reveal which structural improvements—like a new walkway or repaired railings—will have the biggest impact. Stay tuned for updates as we continue the porch and walkway upgrades.