Gun Casing Flower

It is rare to find a perfectly rectangular plot- most gardens are not exactly at right angles to the house. So, in order to measure accurately, you will need to master the simple skill of triangulation. For this you need two fixed points from which to measure everything. The corners of the house are ideal. Since walls are generally at right angles to each other, you can be pretty certain that the house itself will be more or less straight. Start by measuring the house, then measure the distance to each corner of the boundary, first from one corner of the house and then from the other, and make a note of these measurements on your rough plan. Use the same method to determine the position of any features, such as trees, that you don't intend to change.

When you come to draw up your master plan, decide on a scale to use. It is best to work in units often - 1cm:1m, for example (or, alternatively, 1 in:1ft). Start by transferring your house measurements to the paper. If you use squared paper you will find it easier to obtain accurate angles and lengths. Then, set a pair of compasses to the relevant scale distances for each feature and draw an arc from both points marking the corners of the house. The point where the arcs intersect gives the precise location of the feature in question.

Draw all these details on the master plan in ink. Then fix a piece of tracing paper over the top of the squared paper, this gives you the opportunity to experiment with various designs (and make mistakes) without spoiling the master plan itself. There will inevitably be plenty of mistakes and mind-changing before the process is completely to your satisfaction, or you live in a frost-pocket (a low-lying area where frost accumulates), make sure that you use the correct type of hedging or fencing to minimize the problem, and that you choose late-flowering or especially hardy plants that are not going to lose fruit and flowers every time the weather turns cold.