What types of plants are recommended for an inexperienced gardener?

Inexpensive plants are the best because even experienced Gardners can kill a plant. Since I am a lazy Gardner who prefers not to use chemicals I like plants native to my region and perennials for flowers. They will come back every year. I took anything as a start that was offered to me for free...ask fwill offer plants as they are thinning their own gardens. If you do buy trees, go to a reputable nursery and ask for help. We made the mistake of buying what we thought was a dwarf cherry and it is now too big to trim on our own. Plant trees and shrubs away from your house and trees away from any plumbing lines....our neighborhood trees that came with the houses have roots that are lifting sidewalks and creeping in to some peoples main incoming water line boxes and creating havoc. Plus they are a messy inedible plum...cheap trees for the builder but 8 years later not good for us.

The best advice I have is to not stress your choices

Dear Elizabeth,

Lilies, Marigolds, zinnias (which prefer you water at their base), petunias, cannas, dahlias (which need taken up out of the ground, every Fall, so they don't freeze) Ageratum, 4 O'Clocks can all take full sun. Impatiens, begonias, Fushias, Astilbes (which are a perennial in many areas) work better with shade. Where are you located? How large an area are you working with? Will you have access to water in all these areas? Are you dealing with sandy or clay soil? Is there a slope in your yard that will cause water to quickly run off? Do you get full/part sun, or mostly shade? Do you have children or pets? Photo would also be of help. Do you want plants that bloom primarily in Summer, or year round? If you plant trees, keep them far enough away from water/sewer lines and your house.

Weeds seldom need tending. They grow fast too. Plant Weeds. LOL. No, seriously mostly any wildflower mix will generate an easy to maintain flowerbed.

Lillies of the Nile, Morning Glories, Geraniums,

Important to know the Zone you live in as to what will grow best. https://www.burpee.com/findgrowzone

Now in the late summer is the best time to buy perennials. They are always really cheap because the stores want to get rid of them. You can really find some good deals at local nurseries or even Walmart and HD. They may look a little withered when you buy them, but perennials will come back in the spring. I bought most of mine at $5 a 3 gallon bucket, planted them in the fall, they died out but came back in the spring. You can get hostas really cheap this time of year as well. They do prefer the shade, you can actually plant them in a bucket or pot and they will come up in the spring, then you can divide them how you like. Plant your trees and shrubs in the fall so they will take root during the winter.