I had a 5-acre yard at one time. I would hire a Pro to make a to-scale sketch of your scape and get your input for the "feel" you want. They can design the great "bones" you need for drainage and function and make suggestions for major plantings like trees or large bushes. You can then put in hardscape yourself or hire it out. That is where I would start. They will save you much time and money in the long run. You will have fun filling it in and expressing your personality from the curb!

Thank you for your help. We will be seeing a pro, but do have some ideas in mind on a design of mulch layout

It is exciting! I remember planting blue spruce in our front yard and seeing it grow.... mix of the blue and green.....but I love the Japanese Maple, beautiful.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_7652053_growing-zone-japanese-maple.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_8655276_differences-between-blue-green-spruces.html

if you're thinking of it, night lighting adds so much.

I love the idea of blue spruce. We also were thinking of holly, hostas and grasses. I do like the idea of lighting, lots to think about.

Japanese maple is beautiful, but do they have a problem with bugs?

don't know.... I've noticed how beautiful they look at night with uplighting on their leaves and actually the whole tree.
Oh I bet you might think of keeping deer and animals away from near the house.... I do like seeing them at a distance though!

Great suggestions from Westie3. Focus on the foundation planting with trees and shrubs first. Consider bringing in large boulders or rock outcropping to add some interest. The grasses/ perennials can always fill in over time once the larger material is established.

Have you thought of fragrant plants, well the hosta I had with purple flowers was.
Grasses add such a natural look, just love.

that's it, a boulder by the spruce :)

I would like some boulder. Is it okay to plant shrubs now?

right to have at least some plan first. I had to consider my budget, though I did pay at one of my homes for a designer to draw a plan --- if you did that for a start, you could do the planting -- you sound ready to go!!!!!
your home seems grand, but simple! nice. I have friends in Derry, Pa. east of Pittsburgh.

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The paving is very nice, but I think too pricey. I do have a budget, especially after building our new home.

I love the idea of hostas. Reliable perrenials in multitude of colors. There are blue-green varieties that would look great with spruce. If you change your mind about where to put them, they are easy to move. Don't know if you thought about having something up a trellis on one of your vast wall spaces. That might be a nice backdrop!

One mistake I have made in the past is not considering a tree or bush's mature size when planting, hence a little planning helps. Fall is a great time to plant bushes and trees if they have a bit of settling-in time before your first freeze.

Of course things unfold over months and years, but it wouldn't hurt to make a list now of things you've wanted, for example, a water feature, sculpture, a bird garden. Those might impact where you plant. What do you think?

For me one thing is a well-placed arbor; and I might place one at first turn into our side yard, centering the eyes on what's in the distance like an invitation to walk through....
and I love to hear grasses swaying in the breeze...... :)

planning:
http://www.garden.org/articles/articles.php?q=show&id=1296

Save a lot of work if your basic plantings are native to your locale - after the 1st year, no watering, chemicals or fertilizer, etc. You might consider a rain garden, which is usually created with native plants (mostly bushes and grasses, smaller trees) with the same benefits, plus it cleans the water from your roof before it returns it to the water table.

fyi


not the best example, but smoke trees can become a hedge: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7488910_size-mature-grace-smoke-tree.html


The walk from the driveway is flanked by beds of Liriope as a substitute for turfgrass. With two large dogs, keeping the old lawn in good shape required constant effort. The new planting scheme meets the client's goal to reduce maintenance


I love Autumn Joy sedum [this might be it]

kinda cute !?