• Have a good long look at the finished garden and plan out the planting positions. Prepare the planting areas with just the right soil. Make a plant list.

      • Phone up nurseries and garden centres, and generally make enquiries about availability. Make contact with specialist nurseries for items like roses, fruit trees, climbing shrubs, pond plants and fuchsias.

      • See if you can cut costs by buying in bulk or by getting all the plants at the same time. Compare prices.

      • If you are buying large mature container-grown trees, make sure that there is adequate height and width access.

      • If you have doubts about the total planting pattern, start by planting the main feature trees and shrubs.

      COMMON PROBLEMS AND HOW TO AVOID OR SOLVE THEM

      Fence disputes Talk things through with the neighbours at every stage. Leave old posts in place as markers. Leave their fences alone.

      Neighbours’ trees You cannot do anything about neighbours’ trees, other than to trim them from your side. Remember to ask the neighbours if they want the trimmings.

      Big rocks Keep rocks as a feature, or get a specialist to remove them.

      Clay soil Live with clay soil. Look at neighbouring gardens and see what grows best. For vegetable gardens, make raised borders and buy compost and horse manure – so that you are working above the level of the clay.

      Contaminated ground Build over rubble and/or use it as hardcore. If it is something nasty like asbestos or oil, seek specialist advice.

      Waterlogged ground Build a pond, lay drainage pipes and create a water garden complete with bog plants.

      Unwanted structures Carefully salvage bricks and use them for walls.

      Tools and materials

      Although you can borrow tools and use found, salvaged and gifted materials, such as old bricks and left-over sand, you will inevitably have to buy some new tools and things like cement and wood. Tools and materials come from DIY outlets, builder’s merchants and local suppliers. You can make savings in time and energy if you buy the best tools for the task, and in money if you purchase the materials in bulk from local suppliers.

       What will I need to buy?

      TOOLS

      Measuring and marking

      You need a basic kit for measuring, marking, checking levels and setting out the site. Spray paint or chalk can be used for marking out straight and curved lines (not illustrated).

       Large tape measure

       Tape measure

       Pegs and string

       Spirit (carpenter’s) level

      Preparing the site

      These tools will enable you to dig, move and level earth. You can hire (rent) a compaction plate (power tamper) for preparing large patio foundations (not illustrated).

       Spade

       Fork

       Shovel

       Sledgehammer

       Rake

       Gloves

       Bucket

       Wheelbarrow

      Brick and stone

      This toolkit will allow you to break, chop and cut both stone and brick. You may want to hire (rent) an angle grinder or a cement mixer for big projects.

       (Stone) mason’s hammer

       Club hammer

       Bolster (brick) chisel

       Bricklayer’s (mason’s) trowel

       Masonry drill bit

      Wood

      If your designs include fences, gates, pergolas, sheds or decking you are likely to need the tools shown here.

       General-purpose saw

       Jig saw

       Electric (power) drill

       Cordless driver (drill)

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