Front Lawn Garden Concerns

Question: I have lots of home gardening questions. Attached is an image of the front yard with details for discussion. Iâ€™ve purchased a soil test kit, but Iâ€™d like to get started weeding asap.
Following are some of my concerns:                                                                                                                        

    1. Should I add anything to the soil before I begin weeding?
    2. Do you recommend using a product like Preen to keep the weeds in check?
    3. Please recommend low maintenance low water plants for my front bed. Note; the big tree has lots of roots. 
    4. The Hostas are just coming up. Is this a good time to split them?
    5. The Daylilies in front of the garage to the left never did that well. What plants would you recommend?
    6. Next to the garage on the south side, a new bed needs to be established. Suggestions please?
    7. The driveway was widened and the grass on both sides was dug up (9â€). I purchased grass seeds. What else should I do to prepare that soil?

That should be enough to get started. Thank in advance for your attention to my concerns.

responder: Hello,Â   Replied May 11, 2023, 3:54 PM EDT
response: OkSent from my iPhone On May 11, 2023, at 9:24 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:ï»¿

responder: Thank you for your question!  Replied May 11, 2023, 4:03 PM EDT
response: Hi Arlinda, Thank you for the pictures and questions. I will do my best to address each one. 1. Weeding is always going to be an ongoing activity, so the best time to weed an area is yesterday! Go for it and pull any plants that you don't want growing in that area. 2. I'd recommend that you plant the area and apply mulch around your plants, then see how much weed pressure you have before applying any herbicides. Here's some great information about weed control with mulchesÂ and about use of herbicides in a homeowner setting. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smart_gardeners_improve_their_soil_and_weed_control_with_organic_mulch https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/avoid-herbicide-misuse-at-home-things-to-know-before-you-buy 3. All plants are going to require some maintenance especially establishing new plantings, but here is some information about plants that have low watering requirements. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/water_smart_landscapes_by_design 4. You can split your Hosta now if they haven't leafed out too much yet, but fall is probably a better time to do this. Right now the plants are taking a lot of the energy stored in their roots and are transporting it to their leaves. That's why it's better to not disturb the roots once they haveÂ leafed out for the season.Â  5. If your daylilies did not bloom here, they may not have been getting enough sunlight. You could try some more shade tolerant plants if you think that's the case. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/gardening_in_shade_choose_from_a_smart_plant_palette 6. Your south-facing bed will likely get lots of sun and be drier. Here are more suggestions for that. Sedum like you suggested would be great. https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/drought_tolerant_plants_save_water_money_and_time 7. Establishing lawn can be difficult, be sure to manage weeds, follow the recommended applications from your soil test when you get those results, and be sure to water the new seed a few times a week for the first few weeks and then taper down to once a week as the grass matures. This will help to develop a strong root system. Here are some resources you can look at regarding soils and fertilizers. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/smart_gardens_begin_with_healthy_soil https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/fertilizer_basics_for_the_smart_gardener I hope this helps! Happy gardening :)

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 12, 2023, 11:04 AM EDT
response: Thank you! On Thu, May 11, 2023 at 4:03â€¯PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: