listen to this, twice a week and back issues.
watch this and go through all the show gardens
and then this
get some squared paper,
draw out the garden, as it is, from above,
take photos of all the areas,
then make a drawing outlining the area side and bird's eye, of each of the spaces, photocopy this, then get out your colouring pencils, draw shapes, shade spaces, until you find something pleasing to the eye,
Now go for a walk, take a compass, walk around all the neighbourhood,
look at other people gardens, anything you like that is growing in gardens, take a photo of it, and note the direction the garden is facing, note if it is shaded, or open,
each space in the garden needs at least plant that gives structure, a plant that gives ground cover, a plant that give foliage and a plant that gives colour each month of the year, and white as white sets off everything,
so that walk you go on, do it at least every three weeks, and you will start to notice what grows well in your area,
Go to all the local National trust gardens, and local parks.
when you do your drawings don't try to draw specific plants, shade vague spaces, when you have what a blurry vision of your space would look like, you can then find plants to fit your scheme,
there are so many gardening forums, they all love to help anyone starting out.
try to plant things that have edible parts, either for humans or for birds, stick to natives where possible, so native bluebells, rather than breed,
don't worry about making mistakes, that is half the fun,
you will get fit,
another standard design practice is to take the eye around so if you plant a group of bulbs in one area you then plant a group of the same in the next space, so if you are looking at the garden your eye is taken round.
plant in odd numbers, 1,3,5,7 it works better.
I promise you it takes very little to get from where you are, to accomplished, just jump in.
Oh and study compost making it is the key to the whole thing, you will end up loving it, and think of it as a work of art.
make habitat/homes for all critters, that way you will create a balance quickly and problems won't be big.
never spray with nasty chemicals, or use non organics, it's a good way to waste money, and you will never quite get the balance right, and it's far harder work,
www.gardenorganic.org.uk
www.charlesdowding.co.uk
www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/forum.php
www.wwoof.org.uk/links
www.gardenforum.co.uk/mips/gforumlinks/display.asp?choice=grdnadv
mygarden.rhs.org.uk/forums/
gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/
www.gardenforumhorticulture.co.uk