Then list those things you would like to include in your garden. Remember that you will probably have to set priorities and exclude some items later, or add them when your children are older, you workload at the office less.
Think about garden styles that you like or dislike. Do you long for a riot of colour of carefully co-ordinated borders, do you long to have a formal garden with box hedges or a wild New Zealand garden with masses of grasses, hebes and trees? Write down what you like (keep a small notepad in you pocket) and keep the notes, these are invaluable as you get into the detail design phase.
Look around you and decide which you prefer from the many different materials available - what type of pavers you like/dislike, fence styles and materials, garden ornaments. Do you long for a brick wall, schist paths and walls, gravel paths or the ease of stamped concrete?
Garden Wish List
A pool (do you have space plus time to maintain it!)
A barbeque area
A terrace for lunch, for sun-baking, where garden furniture can stay all year
Privacy from the street, from neighbouring properties
Somewhere sunny for winter coffee
A child's play area - sandpit, swing, somewhere to ride a bike
Borders - shrub, flower or mixed borders
Flowers for picking
Native Plants
A water feature - pool, pond or fountain
A lawn
Food and habitats for birds and other wild-life (lizards, hedgehogs, spiders and bugs)
Visit a garden centre or DIY store to view some of the materials available, and if you can, visit a garden show to get ideas and inspiration on garden style and designs. (See our Events pages to see what is on near you here.) Walk around your neighbourhood and see what styles appeal, what ideas you can adapt to your own garden. You can note what is growing and looking lovely and those plants that look simply miserable- this is also useful when you prepare your planting plan.
You need to think carefully about what you would like and set priorities- if you have a young family a play area may have to come before a rockery, at least for now! And set your budget based on what you can afford, completing your design in stages has the plus that you can get a feel for each component as you go, the disadvantage that you will not have your perfect, dream garden instantly!
Work through what is important into you in your garden, consider your budget (& be realistic!) and how much time you have and want to devote to maintenance. If you have a large garden, for instance, lawn mowing may well consume a large part of your available time each weekend. Be realistic about your ability and willingness to maintain your new garden.
Now, take your wish list and begin to match it up with your site analysis- what can you work into your available space given the existing physical and climate conditions you have to work with.
