Hi my name is... and I need landscaping advice

[Bekah Jean]

Hey I'm Bekah. I Airbnb my house and purchased my first rental last year. I'm currently pursuing my second rental and I wanted some advice on what to do with front yard in this pic. Simple easy and inexpensive is what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance! 

As you can see, the edge of the yard is surrounded by timbers. the actual yard is about a 1-2 feet high from the curb. The city will take the timbers away, but what do I do with the yard after that. (No making fun of the mailbox. lol)

[Mindy Jensen]

First off, that is a SWEET mailbox. Too bad you're so far away - I'd take that off your hands in a heartbeat!

Second off, how are you going to use this new property? Straight rental or AirBnB rental?

I would keep the timber as long as it's in decent shape. It's a retaining wall that doesn't look bad in the mailbox picture. 

What is your weather like? Does grass grow easily, or do you have to water frequently?

I like a nice fat border of mulch or rock, with drought-resistant plants. My favorites are Purple Fountain Grass, which grows huge and looks nice, and Salvia, which also grows big.

Snapdragons require little water and will reseed themselves. Lavender can grow really big and smells like heaven.

The grass needs to be filled in or removed altogether. I would like to see larger images to get a better feel of the whole yard.