Starting to plan a garden from scratch, whether it's a small garden in the city or a sprawling country garden, can be a daunting task. What good design is really about, I think, is mastering the hugely different dimensions that there are in any garden: space, scale, texture, harmony, colour, structure, light, dark, charm, strength, sense of place, romance, history and so on. But once you get going, it's not about strict rules – every gardener develops instincts to guide them over time.
The joy of a garden is watching it grow over many years, so I think it is best to stick to a simple, classical design. As you become more confident with the landscape you're working in, you can then re-energise and experiment with the planting over time. Here are the things to consider when you're starting.
Before you start: Make a wishlist
Before you start, think about how you will use your garden and what you need to make that happen. The first thing to consider is a seating area with some pretty garden chairs - preferably this should be near the house, and if possible facing south west.
You may need space for some everyday practicalities like storage for toys or a washing line. Do you want a vegetable garden? What about space for your children? Any garden will require compost, and serious gardeners might want a shed.
In a city garden, you will want to decide where you want to sit when you come home from work and whether you want a garden full of plants or a simpler garden with elements such as beautiful paving and water, with either a wall or a beautiful fence or planted boundaries.
If your garden is small, work out your basic needs and stick to a simple design with one or two wow factors. Keep the planting simple, using grasses or roses with evergreen shrubs and plant pots overflowing with all your favourite seasonal planting.
If your garden is large, take some more time to envisage your space, working out what goes where and how you can divide it up. Try to be bold and think about playing with scale.
Work out where the sun sets and plant accordingly so that the light of the evening sun catches on the plants.