Let me start by saying I'm a new home owner and moved into a house who's previous owner had what I would consider a green thumb. I myself have never cared for a plant in my life and my wife sadly admits to killing every one she has owned. My first task is to ID a few plants that are on my property, one at a time so I don't confuse anyone or myself. Never mind the dead grass were going through a bit of a drought. Also if anyone has any suggestions for looking up plants when you have no idea what they are that would be great too.
This is a shrub in the willow family - Salix 'Hashuro nishiki" or something along those lines. It is unlikely to succumb to neglect, and it can be pruned with relative impunity. If you notice the leaves drooping it will need water; not much else. Also, don't panic if it loses its leaves in winter - that's the kind of plant it is. They come back :-) One thing you can do is buy yourselves a set of the Expert series books by DG Hessayon - available at many garden centres and bookstores. Depending on what kind of plants are in your garden, you could pick up "The Flowering Shrub Expert", "The tree and shrub Expert", "The Flower Expert" etc. and just flip through them for pictures you recognize. Alternatively there is an old Readers' Digest Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (I think that's the correct name) that came out in several editions prior to 2000. Unlike the present A-Z encyclopedia, the old editions had photo sections organized by size of plant and colour of bloom - so if you have a small plant with pink flowers you could find it. You might find a copy through the used book trade or in your local library.
Another book that is great for a new gardener is 'Well-Tended Perennial Garden: Planting & Pruning Techniques' by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. It has a good encyclopedia in the back and will tell you how to care for what you have in a simple and easy to understand language. Newt