Measure, map out, then design

Before you can start designing, you need to measure your garden and draw up a simple plan to scale. This may feel like a lot of work, but it’ll save time and money in the long run. You wouldn’t buy a kitchen or bathroom without measuring up, and it’s no different with a garden.

Start by drawing a rough sketch of your garden, noting the house (including windows, doors, taps, etc), along with trees, sheds, borders and drains – in fact, anything that may be included in or affect the design.

Take the basic measurements to enable you to draw your plan to scale. Measure where doors and windows sit in your house, the length of the boundaries, and where specific existing elements, such as trees, sheds and patios, sit in the plot.

Make a note of any changes in level, particularly around your house. If you have lots of complicated levels, it may be worth hiring a laser level from your local hire centre. They’re easy to use, but you’ll also find tips online if you need them.

Draw up your final scaled plan of the current garden, using a compass to check orientation. I always work on paper, drawing it as if I’m looking out from the house, as that is your everyday connection with the garden. Use the biggest piece of paper you can (A1 or A2) – the larger your plan, the easier it is to understand your space. I usually use a scale of 1:50 (2cm on your page equals 1m in your garden) or 1:100 (1cm on your plan equals 1m in your garden).