We want  a more beautiful yard, where do we start?

Planning, planning and more planning is the answer!

Whether you want to redo your existing yard or you're starting from scratch at a new house, careful planning is the key to making your yard outstanding. Most people love the richness of a lush, dark green lawn. But there are so many other options to consider before you put down all that sod. Remember, the more elaborate the yard, the more work there is to keep it alive and green. 
 
First, plan out where you want flower beds, and how many. Many homeowners surround their houses with flower beds and add shrubs, vines and grasses to fill in. Others carve out larger chunks of the yard for more elaborate displays. The only limit is your imagination. Flower beds can take any shape you want and can be changed from season to season. 
 
Second, decide which kinds of plants you want. Spend time at a nursery to see what's available and talk to experts about what grows best with your type of soil and amount of sunlight. If you want trees, take your time deciding where they'll go. You always can transplant shrubs or plants, but once a tree has taken root, it's much harder to move it. 
 
Finally, figure out how you'll tie all the pieces together. Do you fill in with grass, stones, a pathway or gravel? Do you need a decorative or protective fence? What kind of borders on your flower beds? How about a nice arbor or small water fountain and seats for a quiet place to relax and enjoy the benefits of your labor? 
 

I have the opposite of a green thumb, can anyone out there help me?

If you are not a natural in the area of landscaping consider hiring a landscape architect. With a little guidance from you, she can put together a plan that is beautiful and practical so you can get the most out of your yard. 
 
A landscape architect can get involved in planning the yard of a new home even before the lot is cleared. They often work with architects and contractors to plan the best arrangement for sidewalks, sprinkler lines, decks or patios, or even outbuildings. 
 
For an existing home, a landscape architect can plan a yard makeover. She'll take into account what you want to accomplish, natural elements like the type of soil and direction of sunlight, and what kind of plants will work best. Many landscape architects aren't directly involved in the digging and planting. They'll hire someone to do that. 

We just don’t have time to cut the grass, edge and water plants.

More and more people today are hiring lawn and yard maintenance crews to keep their yards fit and trim. There are many to choose from, and they usually fall into two categories: lawn care and landscape maintenance. 
 
Lawn care companies mostly just cut and edge the grass. Some of them apply fertilizer and pesticides, too, but often you'll have to hire a separate company for weed and pest control. Landscape maintenance firms will do just about anything to keep your yard lush: mowing, edging, pruning, weeding and fertilizing. This is the most expensive option. Still other firms will specialize strictly in maintaining plants and trees, and expect the homeowner to keep the grass cut. Whatever your needs and budget you can find help right here on the Home Improvement Hotline!