How to plan a garden layout (step by step)
Plan a garden layout by measuring the space to scale, mapping sun and shade, then placing structure first — paths, a focal point and a seating area — before filling in planting in repeated groups. Sketch it in 2D and render it before you buy, so you can fix the layout on screen, not in the ground.
Step by step
- 1Measure the plot and draw it to scale.
- 2Map sun, shade, soil and any fixed features.
- 3Place structure: paths, a focal point and a seating area.
- 4Layer planting in repeated groups, tallest at the back.
- 5Render the layout with AI to preview it, then refine before buying.
Start with the bones
- ✓Draw the plot to scale and mark fixed features: house, boundaries, trees, services.
- ✓Note where the sun falls through the day — it decides where to sit and what to plant.
- ✓Set the circulation: how you move through the space, and where paths must go.
- ✓Place one focal point to draw the eye before you think about plants.
Then layer the planting
- ✓Work in layers: trees and large shrubs, then mid-height planting, then ground cover.
- ✓Repeat a short palette across the space so it reads as calm and intentional.
- ✓Leave room for plants to grow to full size — young gardens always look sparse.
FAQ
- What is the first step in planning a garden layout?
- Measure the space to scale and map sun and shade — every layout decision follows from the dimensions and light.
- Should I plan paths or plants first?
- Paths and structure first. Fix how you move through the garden and where the eye lands, then plant around that skeleton.