How to plan a garden layout from scratch

1. Measure and draw it

Measure the boundaries and mark fixed features such as the house, doors, windows, drains, manholes, trees, sheds and steps. Draw a rough plan to scale on squared paper.

2. Note sun, shade and wind

Watch where the sun falls at different times of day, and which parts stay shady or damp. This decides where to put a seating area, a vegetable bed or plants that need light.

3. Decide how you want to use it

• Eating and relaxing: a seating area with some privacy.
• Children and pets: lawn or soft surfaces and safe boundaries.
• Growing: raised beds or borders in the sunniest spots.
• Storage: somewhere for bins, bikes and tools, out of sight.

4. Plan zones and paths

Divide the garden into zones and connect them with paths that follow the way you naturally walk. Curves and angles can make a small garden feel bigger than a plain rectangle.

5. Think about drainage

Water should run away from the house and not collect in the middle of the lawn or against walls. Poor drainage is much easier to deal with before you lay anything.

6. Plant in layers

Put tall plants at the back or edges, medium ones in the middle and low ones at the front. Choose plants that suit your soil and light, and some with interest across the seasons.

7. Add lighting and boundaries last

Outdoor lighting and fencing or screening make a difference to how you use the space after dark. Outdoor electrics should be fitted by a qualified electrician.

Mistakes to avoid

• Buying plants or furniture before you have a plan.
• Making the paths too narrow.
• Putting seating in the shadiest spot.
• Forgetting where bins and storage will go.

Picture it first

Upload a photo of your garden to GlowUpp to see AI-generated ideas for layout and planting before you dig. Always ask a qualified professional before moving gas, electrics or plumbing, or changing anything structural, and check your lease or local rules if you rent or live in a conservation area.