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Write So you have your new place and are ready to make your yard to suit your personality. That involves knowing what you need, like and can maintain. A lot of new gardeners will choose plants based on what they will or do look like and think little about how much maintenance the plant will take. Check all instructions and decide if you can live with the up keep of the plant. Flowers like gladiolas are large, pretty and exotic looking but require being dug up in the fall and stored inside in most climates. Instead try some thing similar with less work like tiger lilies, day lilies, or Siberian iris. They are all tall very striking flowers that only need some thinning every few years. They work well to go around sides of garage or home. Unless it is really shady all the time these plants do well most places.

But be careful about placing flowers or bushes near out side phone boxes or meters take the chance of causing problems. They can be walked on by people needing to check or work on such places leaving an ugly bare spot or cause moisture to build up and create problems with them.
Another consideration is will it work for a duel purpose? Vines like morning glory or roses look very nice growing up an unsightly metal fence not only hiding the fence but hindering nosy neighbors. Evergreen shrubs work well as a nice fence too but you do have to trim them from time to time. It always looks nice to have smaller plants that work as a border for the larger plants but be careful to choose ones that will not spread all over your yard when you turn your back. The hosta plant is nice and it stays green and leafy all summer and come in several verities of shade or sun loving.
Spring bulb plants add extra color in spring with little up keep. Sprinkle in daffodil, and tulips near back and crocus, and hyacinth bulbs in front around your hosta plants for earlier color.
Flower boxes on a balcony or porch look lovely with something that will cascade down over it like a draping rose or ivy. This gives it a secluded feeling to your deck. This is also nice for those fences around pools as well giving them that private get away feel.
Always take into consideration pets and small children when buying plants for in or out of your home. If your dog or cat eats your house plants they will eat those in your yard. Your local vet will have a list of dangerous plants. If you have small children you may want to steer clear of plants with thorns or spiny leafs that they could fall in and be hurt. There are also some types that are deadly to people if your child is very small and could end up eating a plant think about populating your garden with pretty edible plants like violets and day lilies. There are many varieties that are edible.
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