It can take a lifetime of gardening to figure out which flowers bloom when; what grows short, medium, or tall; and which plants work best in your zone and soil. But you want your garden to look good now.

Request a catalog like the one shown here (from High Country Gardens, www.highcountrygardens.com; the company also offers an online version) and order a preplanned, foolproof garden that’s like paint-by-numbers for your backyard. You’ll get plants and a grid that tells you exactly where to place them. Prices start at $82 for an assortment in various colors and heights — a better deal than hiring a garden designer. Other websites to try for planting suggestions or garden plans include www.waysidegardens.com and www.whiteflowerfarm.com, which also offers a comprehensive selection of container gardens. Before you know it, your little acre will look like a park — and you’ll look as if you’ve been doing this all your life.