Viewing post #1236874 by ShadyGreenThumb

Dawn! IDK a thing about your region, what grows in your summer or and your winters. I hear you complain about it being August. We in Texas are in full swing with summer and it will last at least another 2-3 months. So really I am no help with plant selection.

But I love landscape planning. I am drooling over your blank slate! I recently helped my GF by drawing plans on the computer, playing with flower bed shapes and tree location options. But most of the planning imo has to do with your sun exposure. Take the time to make note about where the sun is and isn't in each season. There's no sense planting a full-sun plant,, shrub, or tree in an area of your yard that gets only shade and vice versa. Trees and shrubs that grow large and block the sun can help your energy bills, covering windows to keep the harsh summer sun out (so you have that?) of the house. Certain trees are good for wind breaks as well. And of course plants are good for privacy issues.

Take a trip around your neighborhoods and look at what's growing and pick out something that you like. Take a picture and take it to the nursery. They can give you the name of the plant/tree , the particulars and the needs of each plant you like. Whether it will come back each year (a perennial) or die when cold weather comes (an annual). What plants are ever green or ones that lose it's leaves and go dormant. (Deciduous) That will help you with placement. It seems overwhelming now. But you're going to have fun!!