Beginner Gardening: Beginner needing help, 0 by berley_gander

berley_gander wrote:
I have a flower garden that consist of ugly bushes. It was like this when we got the house and I haven't changed it since because I have no idea where to start. I'm tired of looking at it and want to make a change. I know that I will need something that doesn't take a lot of work because I am gone more than I am home. I would like to take out the bushes, add flowers and other shrubs, and maybe add some small trees. Our walkway is bordered with monkey grass which I do not hate but hate that it spreads so much and I don't know how to control it. The flower bed is only about 2 feet wide and is the length of our house/porch. The porch is low to the ground also. We only have 2 steps from the ground to the porch. This area gets sunlight in the early afternoon until dusk. I live in Alabama so it gets pretty hot during the summer months. It also gets a lot of water when it rains because the rain that comes off the roof lands directly in the flower bed. I have added a picture and can add some more if needed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!