1a/b. Weeds, obnoxious ones. Name doesn't come to mind. 2. Maybe jasmine 'nudiflorum' (winter jasmine) or some type of horizontal-growing cotoneaster. Both can make, as you say, a tangled mass, but both are well worth growing if you don't mind a little judicious pruning every year or so. 3. Some type of hydrangea 'macrophylla'. Yours looks better than the dozen or so I've managed to kill over the years - I'd say it's a "keeper". The holly seedlings are an all-too-common pest. Pull them early and often, plus they come up in the very worst of places! 4. Some type of azalea? If so I say toss 'em in favor or something else that would appreciate the space. They look to be the cheap, common (Walmart) variety that are overused by landscapers as "foundation plants". 5. Welcome to the Alabama forum! 6. ROOT for Alabama ;-D 7. Consider attending our Fall plant swap. We are meeting in Gadsden this year on the 17th of this month and would love to load you down with plants, especially since you seem new to the area. I never miss the opportunity to shamelessly post a picture from the yard. This one is 'Incense' passionflower. Nelson

It may be Austrocylindropuntia subulata - here is a close-up of that plant: One of the stems/trunks looks damaged at the soil line, perhaps rotting. This happens when plant is over-watered. Are they all soft? The plant should be erect. Is there a drainage hole in the container? What is it potted in? (soil...?) Where are you located and how often do you water? Is it receiving enough light? Rina

That looks quite good. If there are any damaged roots, you can snip them off. You can leave plant without soil for a bit, hopefully you can get better mix. If you have only this succulent, you could improve your cactus soil by adding perlite (very easy and inexpensive). It would be good if you sift it (cheep kitchen sieve from a dollar store would do :) to get rid of dust. Mix sifted perlite 50/50 with the cactus soil. If you could get hold of grit, it would be even better, mixing grit+perlite in approx. equal amount and adding about 20% of soil (I wouldn't do any more soil, you could do even little less. Your mix will be approx. 40(grit)-40(perlite)-20(soil)%). The grit should be about size of large perlite granules (about aquarium gravel size). The yellowish low end of your cacti (if not soft) could be either from being originally deeper in the soil (so not receiving light) or it could be (?) beginning of corking - that is a natural process with older plants. It is usually brownish and looks little like dry skin). Plant cactus into the mix. It may need some support to begin with, you could use layer of grit or even better, few larger rocks. It should go into best light you can supply. If the source of light is from one point, make sure you rotate pot approx. 1/4 turn every 10days-2 weeks or so. You could use piece of mosquito screening (from old window screens) or coffee filter to prevent washing out thru drainage hole. For future watering, you could use a bamboo skewer. Insert it deep into soil (1/2 way or more), avoiding root ball. If it comes out damp-cold feeling and/or with small particles sticking to it, there is still plenty of moisture and wait few more days to water. With grittier mix, water should drain out freely. Dump any excess from the saucer.

Tallest one (in your hand) is Crassula mesembryanthemoides; one next to it may be a hardy succulent/ground cover Sedum reflexum (Blue spruce sedum) - not 100% sure; one on very left below Crassula is Kalanchoe tubiflora (Bryophyllum tubiflorum); very bottom center, I think it may be another hardy groundcover Sedum rupestre 'Angelina' . The large center one and smaller to it's right - I am not sure. Looks like there are 2 more hiding (maybe 1 is an offspring of the big one?), but can't tell what they are from the photo. They all need fast draining potting mix, needs to be potted in container with drainage holes or ground - depends what your climate is (hardy sedums will overwinter in cold zones as low as z4 or even z3). And good sunlight. Kalanchoe tubiflora will self-propagate, every little plantlet you see on the leaves is potential plant - they just fall off and grow...in some places they are considered 'invasive'. When posting multiple plants for ID, it is easier to refer to plants if they are numbered. Could you add the general location and/or zone to your name?