Q: We want to start the New Year out right and do something with our landscaping.

We bought the house from you last year and it didn't have anything but a small lawn and an overgrown vegetable garden. We want to get the biggest "bang for our buck" so we thought we'd ask you for advice. You may recall that we are on a very tight budget, so we can't afford a designer or anything.

A: Almost every landscape consultant I've ever talked to and most books on landscaping say to invest first in trees. Trees and large shrubs are your foundation plants. These will need the most time to grow so you want to start your landscape with good, solid, native trees.

You can also add fast growing maples and other species that can give you some color and texture. I have a silver maple that I got as a whip from the National Arbor Society that we planted years ago. It's over 30 feet tall now. It's beautiful in every season and gives needed shade in the summer. Check out the Arbor Society and other non-profit plant organizations. They are a wonderful source of free advice.

Next add shrubs, particularly those that attract birds and butterflies. There are many good sources online for bird friendly plant ideas for our region. Shrubs may also need some time to get established but are well worth it. Add some ground cover, particularly to get rid of some of that lawn, and finally your flower beds.

It's always good to have a plan. Before you plant anything get some good landscape books at the library or bookstore, and don't try to do too much at one time.

My last bit of advice -- do the irrigation first! When you want a beautiful yard it's hard to start with digging up the place and laying down pipes, but a good irrigation system will save money, water, and your plants! You don't want to do it later when you're tired of high water bills and too many hours of watering. Happy gardening!