Landscaping the backyard?

So I am finally ready to make our backyard look pretty. We bought hte house last summer, fenced in the backyard b/c of dog...and that is it. We are going to tile the patio, but Idon't know where to start on researching trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers...I do have a book and have been reading over it. I am in Zone 6 according to it. I want to keep the middle pretty open so that I can put a play set there one day...or the future owners can. I do want some color. Mostly looking to plant along the fence line and around the house and plan on adding some green around the patio.

Any suggestions on what I should look into? I perfer shrubs with the waxy looking leave.

I am totally lost!

Landscaping the backyard?
You will probably need shrubbier plants by the fence - both for height and for competing with the dog. Leave some spaces along the fence where the dog can get up close to it without being inside the planting beds or he will wreck the plants. You can use raised beds to make this easier for him to figure out whether he is supposed to walk in them or not. I would suggest raised beds or planters by the patio, also. Look around the neighborhood and see what people are growing and the light conditions that they have the resemble yours. Also check out the local nursery once your local frost date is past and see what they stock - normally they have a lot of easy-growing plants and some fancy "new" plants. Beware the new stuff because sometimes it turns out to not work well outside the test garden!!! (I have wasted more cash that way!) Waxy leaves - look at round-leaf hollies (yaupon and others without spikes on them). Gardenias, Magnolias (hardy ones), Photinia/red tips - all those are nice evergreen things. Then find some nice tall salvias for some color and long-bloom (again, not the brand new varieties, though). Marigolds and pansies and shorter plants closer to the lawn area and where you sit on the patio. There are some nice magazines and books on garden design by the zone or by the region that you can look up at the library or book store and get some great ideas.

Daylillies are good for some cheap greenery that will make nice blooms for a few weeks - buy the re-blooming kind like Stella De Oro. Get some torch lillies if you like a wilder show (taller and flashier than daylillies). Osterich Fern and Tassel Ferns are cool if you have a lower area in the yard or where the condenser drain comes out from the furnace into the yard and it stays wetter - or maybe by the hose bibb where it may stay wetter. Gallardia (medium) and Penstemon (tall) and pincushion flower (short) are good for sunny areas. Nandinas make good screening plants - though they need to be thinned now and then. Try something strange or interesting each year - you can always move it someplace better suited or replace it. Perenials come back each year on their own, so they are good for building beds up to look lush. Marigolds and zinnias will re-seed but they are also so easy to grow by just scattering the seed each year they are also worthwhile to keep planting each year for stronger colors. Pick either cool (bluish) or warm (orangish) colors for a more coordiated look in each bed - but look mostly at height and sun requirements - trying to match things like acidity and watering comes over time.
Reply:Check with your county extension office or Master Gardener volunteers for free help in your area as to what grows best in your locale. The best trees, shrubs, and perennials should be those native to your specific region. Then you don't have to do extensive watering or soil amending. Also check with nurserymen from your local plant nurseries.
Reply:Perhaps you can get some ideas from this video of low-maintenance, low-water perennials in this garden, using native plants, ornamental grasses, Coneflowers (Echinacea), Salvia, Sedum, Coreopsis, Gayfeathers, Daylilies, Geranium, Butterfly Bush (buddleia ), Liatris (Blazing Star), Peony, Black-Eyed Susan, Echinacea, Gaillardia, Asiatic Lily, Russian Sage, Lupines, Aster, Mountain Bluet, (Centaurea montana), Bluebells, Campanula, Lamb's Ears, Yucca, %26amp; Yarrow ((Achillea millefolium)).

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=94...



"Knock Out" Roses will bloom all summer %26amp; are almost carefree. I love them! There's even a Rainbow Knock Out Rose:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/cemap...

http://www.landscape-america.com/gardens...



The Daylily is another favorite carefree perennial. Look for these colorful "everbloomers" ... that bloom all summer until frost... Stella D' Oro, Happy Returns, Pardon Me, Sunset Returns, Red Hot Returns, Apricot Sparkles , %26amp; Rosy Returns (the first PINK everblooming Daylily).

http://www.sepersnursery.com/Retail/Happ...

Echinacea now comes in various colors:

http://www.waysidegardens.com/webapp/wcs...



A Perennial garden that almost takes care of itself using SELF-SUFFICIENT PLANTS:

http://www.backyardgardener.com/pren/pre...

http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/info/...



Easy-care perennial rock garden:

http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/design/20...

Cottage garden sample plan:

http://www.capecodconnection.com/garden/...

Landscape plans fromHGTV:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_landscaping_...



Better homes %26amp; garden also has a garden planner.

Here's a free interactive landscaping website from Better Homes %26amp; Gardens. You'll have register to log on to their website (You don't need to buy anything or subscribe to their magazine).

"Plan-a-Garden lets you design anything from a patio-side container garden to your whole yard. Use your mouse to "drag-and-drop" more than 150 trees, shrubs, and flowers. Add dozens of structures like buildings, sheds, fences, decks -- even a pond."

P.S. Click on the refresh buttom (at the top) if the page doesn't come up at first. You may also have to close their magazine ad. by clicking on the x

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid...



Landscape Designs: (Click on each picture for more detail %26amp; info)

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...



Gardening advice %26amp; news from the Royal Horticultural Society:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/index.asp

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles020...

List of Perennials (click on the name to access the picture other information about the plant:

http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hort/plant...



This is an interactive site with a lot of information on plants:

http://www.gardenmob.com/



Plant search database:

http://www.plantstogrow.com/zPlantSearch...



Websites to identify a plant:

USDA Image Gallery (search by name, symbol, family, growth habits, by state, Annual, Perennial, etc.):

http://plants.usda.gov/gallery.html

http://plants.usda.gov/



Encyclopedia of Flowers %26amp; Plants (Encyclopedia of Plants and Gardening) in left hand corner, click on annuals, perennials, bulbs,etc.

http://www.botany.com/

Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes (The plants are listed in alphabetical order for easy access. For example, Tulips would be listed under tu. Once you have found the plant, click on the name for a detailed description and information on potting, propagation, growing tips, and varieties.)

http://www.botany.com/index.3.htm



Shrubs %26amp; bushes:

http://www.botany.com/index.10.htm

If you like bushes with waxy looking leaves, you might like the Oregon Grape Holly,

http://www.plantstogrow.com/zPlantsDispl...

http://www.plantstogrow.com/zPlantSearch...



Good Luck! Hope this helps.
Reply:There are many landscaping design companies out there that offer free estimates. Most of them require a minimum to actually start the work (EnhanceScape, for example, has a $1500 minimum). However, what this does allow you to do is get some questions answered, potentially meet w/a contractor free of charge and then make an educated decision on which direction you wish to pursue, if any on your yard. Hope this helps!