Garden Designer Therese Andersen:

Many people start with simple measures: a deck, a few plants, or a seating area. But without a plan, it is difficult to create a garden that works as a cohesive whole.

It is easy to become a little “blind” to your own garden. When that happens, it is easy to make choices that do not fit together – or that need to be redone later.

A good plan is not about deciding everything in advance. It is about knowing:

• how the garden will be used
• the feeling you want to create
• what is actually possible to achieve

That also makes it easier to make the right decisions along the way – whether you do everything at once or build the garden in stages.

Draw inspiration from others – reference images are a simple tool that makes it easier to find the right direction from the start.

A clear plan makes it easier to choose materials that work together and can be expanded on over time.