If you can get photos, it would help me - I have a hard time picturing a site from a description. Also, what height are you picturing for your shrubs? Once we have a bit more information, you may get some suggestions.

An edging might help for now, and will help keep out weeds when you plant your shrubs. I've been fairly successful with a black plastic barrier buried far enough so that the rim is hidden behind the grass, along with a row of bricks or even cinder blocks along the inside edge for the lawn mower wheels and to discourage clover and other crawlers from moving into the garden. Corn gluten will reduce the number of weed seeds sprouting.

For the fall, when you plant your shrubs, plan on putting down cardboard or several layers of newspaper or brown craft paper to cover the ground between them. Then put down a thick layer of mulch to help reduce the number of weeds that will sprout. You may need to put in a few minutes several times over the course of the season weeding anyhow, since almost any garden will need at least some weeding.

Thanks for your response and I will make note of your great suggestions!

Sorry about no photo.....I've never tried to put a photo anywhere (except shutterbug....vacation trip.) It is just one of those computer skills I've yet to conquer. I am very envious of all the great pics people here do post! I just never had one I felt worth posting. Maybe I'll try asking again when I've learned how to post a photo.

If you can upload to shutterbug, you can do GW photos! Most photo hosts will even give you what to copy and paste to embed photos in a post. I know Picasa does. Below tells you how to upload to GW or embed from another post.

What height shrubs are you looking for? If you tell us that, you may get some ideas to investigate, even without a photo.

Here is a link that might be useful: How do I post a photo