Since you said you have always thought they were hideous, have you considered the idea of just putting them on craigslist and also looking there for replacements you might like better? I had furniture in our guest bedroom that I was tired of, so sold it on CL and got replacements--headboard like new on CL for only $25, then ordered one nightstand and repurposed a lowboy previously used elsewhere in our home. I love the way this looks so much more than my initial thought of just painting the existing stuff I had, and it actually cost me nothing.

I don't see "minor cracks" so can't offer any advice on that. Do you mean "fix" with other plants? If so, the only room you have is for small plants .... annuals, groundcover, low perennials, etc. Or maybe you mean "fix" by filling in the planting bed with pavement ...? Sometimes, when you have a very skinny strip of landscape space, it may be better to eliminate it. We can't see how this space fits into the larger scene so it'd be hard to advise on that.

I just had my floors installed. The floor looks nice except it dips and moves in some areas. High traffic areas! I researched for two years on the proper install for this type of flooring. My sub floor which is concrete was very uneven, especially in the high traffic area. I discussed with the hub and watched countless videos on the proper install: level the floor first! We hired a guy who insisted that an underlayment under the flooring will fix the problem. I disagreed d/t my research but my hub thought “good idea”. We will save time this way. Again I disagreed but didn’t win the argument. Now the floor is down and there are very noticeable dips when I walk in certain areas. The installer suggested that we only wear soft sole shoes or socks in the area (high traffic area!!!!). As if it’ll prevent the floor from eventually pulling apart or breaking. He does not feel he should get paid for the job and neither do I but he did put in a lot of hours. What is the best way to fix the areas that are messed up?

Since the only picture you posted is that window -- and if that is your primary concern -- then before the next rain, you could act to at least temporarily block water into your basement via that window until you can resolve the greater issues. Ultimately you may need a window well and, as Jennifer Hogan suggested, a French drain. Also agree that if the problem is severe ... throughout the yard -- more than just this window -- a landscaper may be your best path. Just make it clear that your objective, at least for now, is only to resolve the water issues not "landscape" for looks, potentially creating more yard work than you have the time or energy or budget to maintain. Short term, if it is supposed to rain today/tonight where you live, you could invest in a plastic flower bed border to create a half circle around the window and cover that border and the window with some thick clear plastic covering the border and window.-- think table cloth plastic from the Walmart fabric department. If, in addition to duct tape, you have old curtain rods or broom handles, they might help you prop up and hold the plastic until you can have a few days of dry weather and a plan to fix the problem with a more permanent solution . Then you can use your flower bed border to create a flower bed.and/or redirect rainwater run off coming into your yard.