landscaping planning

Before you start getting your hands dirty you are going to need a landscape plan. It probably won't be very specific at this stage, but should include the basics - where will you sit, where will the children play, do you need somewhere to store tools and equipent, or to grow vegetables. Do you want a labour-intensive garden? Somewhere that will stun and amaze the neighbours (if so check out the exotic plants in the main part of this site)?

There might be parts of the garden that you want to keep hidden - the the shed, the compost heap and the vegetable garden for example. You will need a sunny spot to sit, but also some shade.

You need to decide what your objectives are before you start to make a plan. Once these basics are decided, much of the garden plan itself will fall into place.

Think of your garden as being a series of rooms, and decide what will go in each 'room' and how the different rooms will be separated - hedges, fences and so on. Which can be seen from the main relaxation area?

Look at existing plants already in the garden, and whether they can be incorporated in the new landscape. Don't be afraid to remove an existing mature tree if it really is wrong for the garden but be absolutely sure it IS wrong before you remove it.

Look at other gardens and decide what you like or don't like about them.

Now take a look in more detail at your own garden. Slopes, drainage, irrigation needs, soil type, all affect what garden you will have. While slopes and soil types can be changed, it will be expensive, so again be sure it really is necessary. look at other gardens to see how they have got around the same problems.

Think about how your garden will look on a sunny day, but also where the water will run and how you will move about the garden if it has been raining. Will you have enormous puddles outside the backdoor?

Now you have the basics in mind, sketch out a scale plan on a piece of paper. Keep changing it until it feels right. Think about it for a few days then try again!

If you like you could try using garden design software for extra flexibility and ideas about how the garden will look into the future.

Only now is it time to get your garden fork out and start the actual work.