5 steps to the perfect garden - Ideal Home, Britain's best-selling homes magazine

5 steps to plannning the perfect garden

With a little planning, creating your perfect garden or outdoor living space is easier than you think.

The common problem with getting that perfect outdoor space is not knowing where to start, especially with so much choice available.

Here's how to get started

The main tip from the professionals is - don't just treat it as one big space. The best gardens (no matter how small) are usually divided up into sections. These 5 easy steps show you how create the perfect garden:

1 Make a list of what you want. Typical things to include would be:

An eating area

A relaxed sunbathing area

A play spot with sand-pit for kids

A potted herb garden

A lawn that leads you into other parts of the garden

A water feature or sculpture

Planted up borders.

2 Assess what you have. If you don't know what time of the day your garden is in sun or shade then take a day to observe it. This is important as you don't want the eating area in constant shade.

A south facing garden gets the most sun

A west facing garden catches the evening sun (great for relaxing in after a hard day at work)

An east facing garden has plenty of sunlight in the morning but not in the afternoon

A north facing garden is well lit but will suffer from shade of surrounding buildings. North facing gardens need the most consideration when planning.

3 Make a tight plan. The easiest way to work out different areas is to get a ball of string and some cane sticks.

4 Get some inspiration. Tear out from magazines everything you like – from garden designs, plants, trees, paths, patio and decking areas. And if you see a garden feature you like at a friend or neighbours, ask where they got it from. Garden owners love nothing better then sharing their tips.

5 Do it one step at a time. Dont start all the differetn sections at once but complete one before moving onto the next. Think practically; it maybe better to start at the back of the garden to avoid trampling over newly planted sections before they've settled in.

Image: Garden planned by Matt James

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Want some celebrity advice on making the most of your garden this summer? Check out celebrity city gardener, Matt James' tips.

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