Hi, 

It would be good to start exploring our resource pages, come up with a plan, and start small. If you plant too many things at once, it can be hard to maintain everything while getting established. 

If growing your own food is a priority, it may be nice to plant something edible this year. If you aren't sure of a location yet, you can plant in containers. Many veggies can grow in containers that can accommodate their roots.

Fruit trees can require a lot of maintenance to produce pest and disease-free crops. If you've never grown fruit trees, we generally recommend starting with small fruits like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or figs since they can be easier to maintain without many pesticides. 

There are no plants that can repel insects. The most bee-friendly way to avoid ticks is to protect yourself and routinely check after being outside. Most yard sprays use permethrin or bifenthrin, which are synthetic pyrethroids and are harmful to all insects, including beneficials and pollinators. Natural sprays like neem oil or cedar oil will still harm beneficial insects if they come in contact with them. 

Since there are woods surrounding your home, you may want to consider some type of fencing if you plan on growing edible plants, since that may attract deer or other wildlife that could become a nuisance. Also, you will need about 6 hours of sunlight to grow fruit and most vegetables. If you don't have enough sun, you can focus on leafy greens and some herbs that wouldn't require as much sun as crops like tomatoes or strawberries.

You can get your soil tested to determine the pH and nutrient level. It is recommended, especially before planting edible plants, but it is also good to know for any planned planting areas or garden beds. For example, blueberries require more acidic soil to remain healthy, so if your soil has a pH of 6 or higher, you would want to amend it before planting. 

Turf grass is the best ground cover for high-traffic areas. If you have pets or children, maintaining a healthy lawn space for play is the easiest and will give the most coverage. If you have hard-to-grow areas, you could consider converting those into ground cover or garden beds. 

After going through some of our webpages, feel free to ask further questions or you can seek out a Master Gardener clinic or classes to attend to get some more hands-on help. 

Emily