When I moved into a new home two years ago, I found a landscaping class at the parks and rec. I found that little class to be helpful and cheap! I made a few (expensive) mistakes along the way, it might have paid off to hire a consultant for a few hundred dollars. But then I wouldn't have learned all I did, and I did have fun planning.

We moved two years ago and are still in the (SLOW!) process of re-landscaping. I think an excellent first step is a)figure out what all the plants in the yard are, b) figure out what you want to keep.

Figure out the great big picture: patio over there (waving arms), path sorta this way, tall something (bush or tree) over at that end, etc. Then you could hire someone to come over and give you advice. When we bought our first house, that's what I did. I got a landscape designer to come over and give me ideas and what types of plants would accomplish what I wanted. (Filling a corner in an interesting way, not overgrowing a small space, things like that.) I think it cost me $50, and she was really helpful. She spent an hour with me and gave me plant names, suggested groupings, just a whole lot of info. Before she arrived, I made a childish-looking diagram of my yard and followed her around making tons of notes on it. She gave me suggestions on when to plant what, what to work on first, etc. Of course, I didn't follow ALL her suggestions, but her comments and insights were really helpful to me. Then I spent the next couple of years buying plants like crazy (oh darn!), looking at magazines and looking through Sunset Western Garden Book endlessly.

If your budget doesn't allow for a pro, you could join the local hardy plant society and I bet you'd get a half dozen people willing to give you ideas and show you their gardens. That's a great way to get ideas too.

I would join a garden club in your area. Most gardeners love to give advice (free).I have been asked over to many different gardens to give ideas and I just love that.The club probably would also give you such great advice and a cheap source of plant material. They will also be in the know on cheap but good mulches and soil.

For a site that might have something for you...

Here is a link that might be useful: Welcome to PlantAmnesty