Are you planning to use what you already have to your best advantage: rather than pulling plants and digging up rocks, can they be used in your new design?

Does the area to be landscaped need protection from the wind or sun: Should you plant a tall tree in a certain area to shade your house and help keep it cool in summer or provide other protection from the elements? Perhaps you’d like more privacy in which case you may decide on certain tall bushes etc.

If you are planning a lawn area will there be adequate sunlight, if not perhaps choose another form of ground cover.

Are you or any of your family keen gardeners, if not you may want to plan now for a low maintenance garden, rather than design a beautiful area only to watch it succumb to weeds etc as you and your family get bored with it or run out of time to keep it maintained.

Will there be enough space to push wheelbarrows and lawnmowers etc from one side of the house to the other. Having an obstacle free path makes it easier for day to day maintenance.

Is it easy to gain access from the road to the front of the house; make sure to have a clearly defined path, you may decide you need some form of outdoor lighting to help at night.

Do you have enough outside taps: if you’re not using some form of dripper system will your hose reach all the areas required?

If you need a boundary fence make sure you have all the required legal paperwork before starting. Speak to neighbours etc to get their input.

If you are planning and outdoor entertainment area make sure you will have access to both lights and power.

While the questions above are by no means all you will need to check they will give you a starting point and can be used as a guide to help you when it comes time to sit down and design the layout of your new garden/outdoor area.