We just purchased this house and I hate the Flowerbed. I have no idea what those bushes are and I would like to plant some colorful flowers. It's overflowing with weeds just like our Lawn! I plan on stripping the whole flowerbed but may save two of the bushes and put in a garden hose holder. Any helpful ideas of what flowers would look good or what I can do to make this pretty and keep the weeds Out!
We need a bit more info- is this a western exposure?
How willing are you to water regularly?
Do you know what kind of bushes they are?
Do you have a color preference for the flowers?
When you scratch into the ground, does it seem like sand or solid sticky clay?
Lhermann: if you start from scratch your options are wide open, but as Pistil ask, it will make a difference as to how much light and shade this side of the house receives. No matter what type of soil you have, when starting a flower bed next to a house as yours is, I suspect that the soil is back fill from when the house was built. I was told one time that if the foundation is a poured foundation lime will be leaching from the concrete for many years, so a soil test would be a good logical start. Check with your local garden center to see if they now of a soil testing service.
No mater what kind of soil you have, when you start your new bed, make sure that you mix in a good humus additive to your soil such as peat moss or compost. This will help keep the soil from compacting and also aid in water/moisture retention. Check for a compost facility in your area. They often have a ready and available cheap source of compost to add to your soil.
As for what to plant, Kansas is a dry hot summer state and can be a cold snowy winter state, so keep that in mind when selecting your plants. I am a fan of daylily for their variety of color and availability. I also like bulbs that bloom in the spring, such as daffodils and tulips, muscari or grape hyacinths, etc. You will need to know if you have rabbits in your area because they love tulips, so be ready for the rabbits to pull up a chair at the table in the spring.
You could also consider hosta. There are tons of variations of hosta and mixed with flowering plants make an interesting landscape.
Once you determine your soil type and sun vs shade conditions, then start Googling on line all the availabe mail order plant sites and have fun planning out your new garden. Do a search for shade garden plants or sun garden plants and you will find a wide sellection of offerings.
