Are you up for investing in some big, bright colored pots? They can get pricey, the nice ones.

Yes but maybe only 1 if they are pricey

Maybe red?

Why pots? I'd just fill with impatiens, caladiums or the like.

Where the bark is i want pots otherwise i get alot of oxalis growing and i hate that.

I used to have redwood barrel there but the Japanese maple in it died and termites got to the pot.

If Oxalis weeds are a problem, you could easily take care of them with Preen (pre-emergent herbicide) and an occasional weeding while you are actively working on getting control. Once you gain control (with regular, periodic applications of Preen every few months, which takes 5 minutes) the problem will disappear outside of the need for monitoring.

The Garden Artist LLC Unfortunately the scalloped edgers that separate our houses the other neighbor put in and she loves it, so i cant change that one. I could only change 1 strip of the edger on my part of the house. Same with the fence they like their green which i don't. I wont use chemicals would rather just pull the weeds. Roundup is a known carcinogen. Those pots do you mean to put directly in front of the white metal gate on each side of it and on the cement walkway or on the tile steps? Those pots you showed are expensive but i think I could get terra cotta piping and paint them that red color and that would work.

I would go ahead and go for the flat edger on your side of the property; just be sure to make a selection that contains the terra cotta color in the existing scalloped edge. Because it's a flat surface, the same as your existing concrete, you aren't really adding a new texture and in using the color in the existing edge, you'll be keeping a cohesive design.

I definitely understand about the roundup; it's good to look after our earth! You can fill a weed sprayer with white vinegar and several drops of dishsoap (you can use an organic one) for a natural weed killer. Some recipes call for salt, but that will stop new plants from growing in the bed in the future. This weed mixture will kill whatever plants it touches though, so be careful once you have plants in there.

The tall, thin nature of those pots is what we're looking for, so absolutely do some painting :) I would place them on either side of the doorway/step area; so one would be in the bed that's showing, close to the wall and the other would be placed equally on the other side.

Here's the thing about glyphosate (Roundup) . . . long-term exposure hasn't even been definitively proven to cause cancer, although it could be a cause for concern, and if you use it properly, you will have zero exposure to it. You wear protective clothing and use it to spot treat weeds in a small area like yours, not broadcast all over the place like they might do along a field or road. It breaks down in about two weeks to a month. So you use it judiciously and in a very focused way. It also only works well on emerging weeds, not ones that are old and tough. But if you don't want to use Roundup, corn gluten suppresses weed seeds from sprouting, I have used it to good effect. They sell it in big bags in the garden stores where I live. Also, just keep ahead of the weeds. In a situation like yours, it shouldn't get too bad. I have a small courtyard garden in front of my front door and once a month weeding pretty much takes care of it. I use cedar bark mulch, very good for weed suppression when applied 3-5 inches thick.

The Garden Artist LLC thank you i already have one of those weed sprayers and will buy the vinegar and soap as i have other spots to spray as well. you know any free websights where i can lay out this design online to see how it looks?

http://theselfsufficientliving.com/10-free-garden-landscape-design-software-tool/

Here are a few options to look into, depending on if you are looking for an overhead or 3-d view :)

Fantastic thank you! :)

The Garden Artist LLC

Well ive decided to stick with just having pots not digging up the soil. Hubby doesnt want to do it and i cant with my bad back and he wont hire anyone. He says there are more things that take top priority. The pot idea can be done however, I think ill get maybe 2 big red pots where the bark is and 2 like you suggested by the gate

The Garden Artist LLC

Well im finally getting around to working on this side of our house and a friend sent me a link to this pot. Would it work? http://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/im/61435230/resize-h800%5Ecompr-r85/1559/15594753/Byrum+Self-Watering+Plastic+Pot+Planter.jpg