Hi everyone! Let's start off with some facts:

1) I have a 9 month old so not a lot of time to work on anything elaborate

2) I have arthritis in my hands

3) I have very very few landscaping or gardening skills.

i have a small 50s rancher with rectangular mulch beds on either side of the front door. I started off by edging with fake brick (only one side done so far). What I'm looking for is help with simple design! I have a Rose Bush on either side of the front step, and on one side I have four small spring boxwood. I'm just overwhelmed researching options. If I had far more time, energy, and skill I'd completely reshape the beds in addition to the edging and planting, but I need to work with what I've got.

I definitely can't afford professional assistance so I was hoping to crowdsource some ideas online!

(As for the dirt around the front path, that's going to be grass... eventually)

Many thanks!!

Most important question: Which way does the house face? Does it get shade in the morning, shade in the afternoon, or shade all day?

2nd Most important question: what part of the country are you in. Zone (how cold it gets) and to a lesser extent soil type.

3rd kinda-optional question. What style do you like? Shrubs? Natives? Big showy blooms? All season interest? Are you trying to landscape the whole front yard, just the foundation behind the path?

To be honest, I had a 9 month old about 7 years ago, and last year was the first time I really gardened seriously since then. (to be fair, I had two more along the way. Youngest is 3 now) I might limit it to some shrubs and maybe a groundcover that will get busy establishing themselves until you have more time on your hands.

Which shrubs and groundcover will depend on the answers to the first two questions. Off the top of my head, I would say korean lilac and geranium bikovo, but that may be entirely inappropriate for your conditions.