This is when we can start planning, digging and planting for what our gardens will look like in the Summer.

I'm going to be making some changes in my own garden but we're also busy with lots of projects designing complete new gardens for our clients. So how do you go about transferring the germ of an idea into a finished garden? Here are a few ideas.

• The first phase is to survey what you've got. Mark out all the perimeters, the key fixtures and levels. Remember that whilst you might want to get rid of a tree or a hedge it may need you to get local authority permission.
• The next step is to think about what you really want from the garden. What turns you on? Have a look through garden books. Do you prefer the formal to the wild and natural, cottage gardens, traditional or contemporary?
• And how much time can you spend on gardening? My clients were enthusiastic and wanted to be outside all the time but didn't want to be slaves to the garden. A succession of parties after the build confirms that the large areas for people and different seating through the garden were the spot on.
• Also have a think about how much you want to spend, a new border can cost as little as £100 but some garden features can be very costly. Water can add a lot to the final bill!
• Get some focus and scale. OK not everyone wants a big noisy waterfall but you could have a smaller water focus. If that sounds like too much work then how about investing in one great urn or sculpture for the garden? And if a garden fails to impress its usually because people see them in 2D and forget about putting in height and creating a good scale between plants, people and boundaries.
• Finally, add some element of a surprise. In a small garden it may just be an antique garden ornament peeking through the plants that you can only see when you're upon it. In a larger garden you might be able to suddenly come across a woodland stream or a hidden garden within the garden.

This might all seem quite a lot to be planning now and we've not even talked about the plants that you'll want! On a miserable winters day you might think it's a bit early but you often need four to five months from our first conversations to a complete garden so if you want a summer sensation out there start planning now so that you're ready to build when the good Spring weather arrives.