Where would you start?

[FireflyGirl]

I want to completely redesign the back garden so it starts working for us. At the moment, it's very traditional - square lawn surrounded by beds but not much in them and not very exciting. No seating area, which I'd like for when the nights get longer.

I've taken measurements, noted where the sun moves, and have bought a kit to test the soil pH. I also visited lots of open gardens last year, although none in my village.

There are bulbs and plants I would want to keep but probably relocate, and we have a toddler DS so need to include a grass/playing area, his playhouse and a swing set thanks for that, DM

I also have a veggie garden in a raised bed and containers in the front garden, but don't need to move them to the back.

Where would you start with making plans? It will be a long term project, rather than something to achieve by the end of the year, but I just don't know where to start with designing it.

I have been doing this over the past couple of years.

What aspect does it have? That will determine what you can plant in it.
What else do you want to get out of your garden - do you want an eating area, a greenhouse, a shed etc.
Are your boundaries sorted? If fences etc need repairing, now is the time to do it.
How much maintenance are you prepared to do? Again this will determine your plant choices.
Have a think about the position of major structures first -paved areas, buildings, boundaries and trees.
I would say don't be afraid to break the garden up a bit by dividing it with planting and screens. Children probably don't need as much lawn as we think they do (and lawn is actually quite labour intensive).
Do you know what style you like? Cottage garden, minimalist, natural etc.
A few good books I would recommend are:

Garden design - a book of ideas by Heidi Howcroft - beautiful photos and case studies to inspire you.

The encyclopedia of garden design - RHS -as above but with more practical advice.

What plant where encyclopedia - RHS

Dream plants for the natural garden - Piet Oudolf - an encyclopedia of mainly perennials and grasses, but all the reliable plants are described as well as those to avoid.

Obviously budget will come into it at some point but mainly if you have a lot of hard landscaping, fences etc to do.

I'd love to see photos!

I was thinking along the lines of splitting it into sections, just really not sure where to start! I've ordered those from the library.

It's kind of East/South East facing but there's a South facing wall (next door's garage wall, to be precise) which is currently home to my rampaging raspberries! I'll take some photos tomorrow.

I want an eating area, and there's a bit that gets the late evening sun which would be ideal. There's a garage already in the back corner, and the greenhouse is in the front garden so don't need to incorporate that.

Fences are doing okay - middle panels replaced last winter, side panels a bit more battered but still got a few years in them.

I want something relatively low maintenance, with evergreen shrubs/cover as one of the cats has picked one of the beds as his toilet and it's currently exposed so I worry about toddler DS tramping through. Plus any time I get for gardening I prefer to spend on the fruit/veggies