A real character
Before even beginning to form some initial thoughts about what you would like your ideal garden to look like, you need to work out the personality of the garden you've ended up with. It will have a set of characteristics which, all working together, determine what you can grow successfully. There's no point planning a lush, tropical-style garden inspired by your recent holiday in the Caribbean if your space actually gets barely any sun all day and has the wrong type of soil.

So when you move house and inherit a new garden, most experts advise that you wait an entire year before embarking on any major work. That way, you get to see exactly what you have on your hands plant-wise, whatever the season or weather. Of course, if you have a concreted space or just a few beds to sort out, 12 months' observation time is not quite so necessary.

As you assess your space and try to get a feel for your garden, these are the areas you need to be thinking about. In the long run, you'll see it's time very well-spent...