How to design YOUR DREAM GARDEN

Award-winning garden designer and author Pollyanna Wilkinson shares her expert advice on creating the ideal outdoor space for you

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It's so easy to spend huge amounts of money on your garden and still make mistakes with the design, but there are some simple tips to improve how your garden looks. Most people start by trying to maximise their lawn with a small border of plants around the edge, but this can leave a garden feeling flat and empty. Instead, begin by stripping your garden back to basics.

Write a wish list

Ask yourself, 'How am I going to use the space?' Will you be gardening, cooking, sunbathing or playing in it? Once you've worked out your garden uses, it will be much easier to come up with a plan of what you need. For example, if you want to use your garden for eating during the warmer months, you'll need to add a dining area to your wish list.

Then, look at the layout. Figure out where feels an inviting space and where feels more exposed, as this will guide where you might want to set up seating areas. Take note of the sun too – check how it falls during the day to work out the best place to position your plants and which plants will be happy where.

Creating balance