Before a conversation
Bring observations, not a perfect plan.
You do not need design vocabulary. A few specific examples from daily life can be more useful than a folder full of images.
01 / Look
Notice light and routes
Take photographs from the house and from the garden. Observe where the sun reaches, where water gathers, and which routes you already take.
02 / Describe
Name the useful moments
Write down three things you would like to do in the garden: eat outside, find a quiet corner, grow herbs, or make a clear entrance.
03 / Prioritise
Separate needs and wishes
Decide which problems must be solved, which ideas are flexible, and which choices need advice before a direction can be agreed.
A planting brief
Four details that help.
A planting plan responds to a place. Start with these observations and leave unknowns marked as questions.
Exposure
Note whether the area feels sunny, shaded, sheltered, or windy at the times you use it. The pattern can differ across a small garden.
Existing planting
Identify what you want to keep and what feels unsuccessful. Photographs are helpful when plant names are unfamiliar.
Ground conditions
Record what you already know about the soil and drainage. A design conversation can identify which observations need further checking.
Care and character
Describe the amount of tending you want to do and the feeling you prefer: loose, structured, quiet, colourful, or a combination.
Next / Start with the need
Tell us about
your garden.
Share the kind of help you need and a little context about the space. The sample brief guides you through the relevant questions.
Build a sample brief