Having a plan drawn for your garden can help you see exactly where the elements (plants, lawn, hard surfaces etc.) are going to fit into your garden. A plan also helps you to take a more active role yourself in the design process. When I draw plans, they are accompanied by detailed costings for materials and labour split into sections for the different design elements.

 A garden project can go ahead without a plan, and some simple jobs do not need one, but for more complicated projects it is advisable.

 A plan can also help to bring a theme for a garden to life, such as Mediterranean, oriental, English cottage garden or minimalist.

 Once a plan is drawn, the whole project does not have to be completed in one go. The construction of the garden can be done in stages to suit your budget. Gardens can be "instant" but often work better when allowed to "evolve" and, of course, grow over a longer period of time.