Be first, do second

Your backyard is empty, with a shrub here and there. Or maybe it's overgrown, and it's a higgledy-piggledy mess of weird plants in weird places. Either way, embarking on the journey to turn it into the beautiful oasis you so dearly deserve can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, this is where we all start.

It sounds crazy, but before start to change it, start using it. Maybe place a chair under an existing tree and just sit. Observe how the sun feels on your face or how that cold breeze makes you shiver. And then imagine how you want to use it. What would be your garden rituals? Sitting by an outdoor fire with friends and a glass of wine, warming you from that breeze? Or tending to your edible garden with the children giggling on the lawn next to you? Once you start dreaming up your garden rituals, your garden layout will naturally flow.