Learn your site
Before you start, make sure you understand all the idiosyncrasies of the space at hand: aspect, soil type, sun and shade, damp and dry all affect what will thrive in your garden. “You need to know what your site is like: get a survey done if you’re starting from scratch, take a soil sample, work out the slope and aspect, and check trees’ canopies even if they’re next door and not in your garden,” Humaira advises.
Don’t feel intimidated by working this out though: much of it you will already know pretty well, especially if you are adding planting to a garden you have had for some time and have seen in all seasons. “Being a designer is often more
