The blank canvas
A new-build garden is both the easiest and hardest. Easy: no old mess. Hard: the soil is often terrible, there's zero inspiration on a flat mud patch, and your budget was already consumed by the mortgage.
Step 1: Fix the soil
New-build topsoil is often removed or covered with building waste. Have at least 20cm of good garden soil delivered. Work in plenty of compost.
Step 2: Plan the layout
Make a design before buying anything. Where's the terrace? The lawn? The borders? An AI garden design is the fastest way to visualize this.
Step 3: Hard landscaping first
Lay paving first, then fencing/hedges, then lawn, then planting. This order prevents trampling freshly planted borders.
Step 4: Choose plants
Pick fast-growing species: ornamental grasses (full after 1 season), ground covers (dense within 2 years), climbers along fences. Trees grow slowest — plant those first.