Beginner Gardening: Help with Front Yard Landscape., 0 by ckka

ckka wrote:
Hi all I am here to pick your creative brains. We purchased our house in april this year. By the time we got done pulling out all the ivy and taking down a large pine that was sitting in the middle of the drive way, summer was here. I understand that summer is not a great time to plant shrubs and bushes so we held off. Now fall is on it's way and we really need to start landscaping.

I just don't know where to start. Would love an old country cottage look but don't know if it would work with this house. The neighborhood seems to have a more traditional theme going on but I am not a fan of boxwoods or shaped shrubbery and I really don't like azaleas at all. We do have a crape myrtle (pink) to the right (not shown in photo) and a lilac set back near the fence. I love lilacs but the bush is pretty boring the majority of the year, like hydrangea (both lace top and mop heads), wouldn't mind trying a climbing rose up the trellis. I also like the nadina and the golden thread cypress. I want to be creative and mix it up a bit with a ton of texture. I love wispy.

I think I am just a bit overwhelmed with the choices. I guess my current goal is to just get taller (not more than 4ft-6ft tops) evergreen or deciduous in front of the porch so at least my yard doesn't look completely pathetic next spring. There's about 10ft on either side of the porch and two city planted maple trees at the street.

Should I hire someone? Use a nursery free service or try to do it myself? Ideas, suggestions, insights on plants and all?