CHICAGO — You've got most of the boxes unpacked and the bedrooms painted. The new house is starting to feel like it's yours. But what about the yard?

Is it foreign territory? Maybe you're moving from a downtown high-rise and you've never had a blade of grass to call your own. Maybe your new outdoors is a high-rise balcony and you've never had a houseplant.

We're here to help, whether you find yourself in the middle of a blank expanse of sod in a brand-new subdivision or in the former home of an avid gardener, surrounded by mysterious brown stalks.

What are the first steps?

• Wait. The urge to redo the landscape may be as strong as the desire to get rid of that 1970s wallpaper. But it's a good idea to go slow. If you let some time go by — even a year — before making major changes, you can answer some essential questions about your property.

You'll know what kind of sun, shade, soil and wind you have so you can choose plants that are likely to thrive. A well-planned garden that suits its site and your needs will be much easier to care for and more enjoyable than one you rushed into.

• Watch. "It's going to surprise you," says designer Brian Shea of Voltaire's Gardener in Chicago. Maybe the previous gardener planted bulbs that will pop up in spring. Shrubs or perennials may bloom at different times. There may be a lot more shade in summer, with leaves on the trees, than in March. As the year goes by, take photos and make notes (with dates).

• Learn. Now, while it's still winter, get a good all-round gardening book. and read at least the introductory chapters. Leaf through garden magazines. Tear out pictures of gardens you like and ones you hate, and think about why. Are you drawn to formal gardens? Do you like looser, more natural landscapes? Find a good garden center with a knowledgeable staff. Ask them lots of questions.

• Take a class. Many garden centers, public libraries and park districts offer free or inexpensive seminars and talks on such topics as lawn care, houseplants and choosing perennials.

• Live. As you spend more time in your home, you will discover what kind of landscape your life requires: where you walk, where the kids want to play, where you'd like a screen for privacy, where the hot summer sun blasts your afternoon barbecues, where you'd like something interesting to see out a window in winter.

Does merely mowing the lawn bore you to death or keep you rushed? Maybe you need to keep your landscape simple.

• Sneak peeks. Walk around your neighborhood and others and look for yards you like, especially those that seem to have the same kind of site as yours. Take a friend and talk it over. Go on garden walks (we will print a listing on May 11). And make those notes.