7 Steps to Designing a Garden from Scratch

Why starting from scratch is exciting

A bare new build plot or poor-soil garden can feel daunting — compacted ground, little topsoil, and not much to look at. But it’s also a rare chance to start fresh. Instead of battling old mistakes, you can design a garden that’s tailored to your life: low-maintenance, productive, beautiful, and full of nature.

A well-designed garden isn’t just about looks. It brings daily mental health benefits, provides food, supports pollinators, and creates a personal sanctuary that grows with you.

Here’s a step-by-step approach to get started.

Step 1: Map out your needs and dreams

Before you touch the soil, think about how you want your garden to work:

• Privacy from neighbours?

• Space for kids or pets?

• Food production?

• A quiet spot to sit with morning coffee?

The Dream Garden Workbook is designed to help you capture this, from your materials palette (what hard landscaping feels right) to your colour palette (how you want the garden to look). It even walks you through mapping functions and natural zones like sun, wind, and noise.

Step 2: Assess your site honestly

New build and neglected soils are often compacted, low in nutrients, and short on life. Instead of fighting it, observe:

• Which areas stay wet or crack dry?

• Where’s the sunniest wall?

• Is there shelter or constant wind?

This helps you place plants where they’ll thrive, not struggle.

Step 3: Build the backbone

A good design starts with structure. Paths, patios, fences, and hedges define how you move and use the space. If you want to get accurate, create a scaled plan — it’ll save you money by letting you calculate materials volumes and paving areas before you order.

Step 4: Improve the soil the easy way

Don’t dig — it only makes compaction worse. Instead:

• Lay cardboard over weeds.

• Add a thick layer of compost or mulch.

• Plant straight through.

This no-dig approach gradually rebuilds soil life and structure. It’s far easier than trying to “fix” poor soil by digging and fertilising.

Step 5: Choose plants that thrive locally

Look around your area — what shrubs and trees do well in neighbours’ gardens? Start with the proven performers, then layer in tougher perennials and shrubs. For a productive garden that still looks good, include edimentals (plants that are both edible and ornamental).

For inspiration, grab the Edimentals free booklet, and if you want to go further, the Self-Sustaining Garden course shows you how to design whole planting schemes around them.

Step 6: Plant for layers, life, and yield

Think like nature:

• Canopy: fruit trees or tall shrubs.

• Mid layer: berry bushes, flowering shrubs.

• Ground layer: weed-suppressing perennials and herbs.

This structure gives beauty, food, and year-round cover for pollinators. It also reduces maintenance by keeping soil covered and weeds shaded out.

Step 7: Start small, grow with it

Don’t feel you need to finish the whole design at once. Tackle one border, one patio, or one hedge at a time. Gardens evolve, and part of the joy is letting them grow alongside you.

The payoff

With these steps, you’ll go from compacted, uninspiring ground to a space that’s rich in life, relaxing to be in, and productive without being high-maintenance. A garden designed from scratch can give you:

• Mental health benefits from time outdoors.

• Food on your doorstep without an allotment’s workload.

• A biodiverse refuge for pollinators and wildlife.

• Beauty that lasts for years.

Next steps

• Start planning: Download the Dream Garden Workbook to design your perfect layout, palette, and functions.

• Add edible beauty: Explore the Edimentals guide for stunning plants that double as crops.

• Go deeper: The Self-Sustaining Garden course gives you the full system for turning poor soil into a low-maintenance, productive, resilient garden.