Also appreciate your advice for what to plant around the front tree (see photo). This area gets plenty of sun especially in the afternoon. Would the tree roots allow anything to grow there? Would be great to add easy-care shrubs with color from either leaves and/or flowers to fill in the area around the tree.
1) Which shrubs would you recommend?
2) Do you recommend adding soil to raise the soft soil level a bit and if so, would it be necessary to place a plastic 6-8 in. barrier ring around the base of the tree trunk to prevent rot there from raised soil?
