HELP Newbie!!!!!

[skibeja]

i BOUGHT THIS HOUSE IN FUQUAY-VARINA, NC IN OCTOBER AND WANT TO SPRUCE UP THE YARD A BIT. I AM ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND AM DOING THE NWORK MYSELF. BUT I NEED SOME IDEA'S AND FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN YOU GUYS ARE GREAT. SO I APPRECIATE ANY INPUT YOU HAVE.

http://yard1.shutterfly.com/
;)

[Newt*]

Hi Skibeja,

Congratulations on your new home! The first thing is to figure out what you want from your yard. Make a list of what you need such as an area to entertain with a hard surface, dog house?, play set for kids, veggie garden, trees for shade, flowers, etc. Figure out how you want to use the space. Look at pics in books and magazines and save what you like. Install the hardscape such as buildings, patio and paths first. Then comes the trees and shrubs and then the plants. Last is your lawn. If you just want lawn then that's where you start.

If you want plants you'll need to know your hardiness zone. You can use this zip code zone finder if you don't know it.
http://www.gardenweb.com/zones/zip.cgi

Here's some handy sites on how to design a landscape.
http://www.gardendesigner.com/exp-fir.htm
http://www.garden.org/articles/articles.php?q=show&id=1362
http://www.finegardening.com/Design/

Please remove your caps lock from your keyboard. In computer language it means you're yelling and it's hard on the eyes.

Thanks,
Newt