Planting the bushes first might help. When you try for the PWP it will show you what will get removed.
So if too close you'll lose the shrubs.
For the TC try using 2 trees in different spots to see if they'll take. Tree is only 60 bells.
I went online and found a QR bush. Used it in one of my dead spots.
I planted two trees in the same spot as you did. They didn't take. Tried again and moved them one space left and right.
So they were on the side of the house and not in front of the house. They took and once they were grown I made them into stumps.