The One Step Most Home Gardeners Skip (But Probably Shouldn’t): Measuring Your Garden

When people dream about redesigning their garden, they usually start with the fun bits: Pinterest boards, favourite plants, colour palettes… and oh yes, moodboards galore.

But when I begin a new design—whether it’s a sleek suburban backyard or a tiny historic plot—I always start somewhere far less glamorous.

Measuring.

Yup. Just me, occasionally with my clients, some tape measures, laser measurement and levelling tools, and a notebook. (When I started as a garden designer, it was not this extensive. I had just two extra-long tape measures, one shorter one, and some tools to measure effectively by myself when needed.)

And honestly? It changes everything.

By the way—if you're dreaming of a garden that blooms all season beautifully, I'm working on a new course around that idea. If you'd like to help shape it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Why Measuring Comes First

A little while ago, I spent the day in a small allotment garden plot wrapped around a preserved heritage cottage. I’m redesigning it in the spirit of the 1920s, imagining how Elisabeth Koch, one of Finland’s earliest and most thoughtful garden designers, might’ve designed it if we still had her original drawings.

Of course, the first thing I did was… walk the space. Slowly. Tape measure and camera in hand.

My laser measurement tool had broken that morning (after many years of trustworthy service), so I went full old-school. And you know what? I didn’t mind at all. Measuring by hand slows everything down in the best possible way. It helps me really notice things:

• the shape of the land
• where a path naturally wants to wander
• which plants have claimed their own little corners
• where the light pools, and which areas stay in the shadows
• how the whole space feels

It’s how I start listening to the garden before I make any plans. 
I let the garden introduce itself and reveal its potential.

Why This Matters for Your Garden

You don’t need to be planning a grand redesign to benefit from measuring.

Maybe you’re thinking about creating a new flower bed.


Or extending your patio.


Or just figuring out where you would have space for a small kitchen garden.

Taking a few simple measurements before you start can save you a lot of second-guessing later.

When you measure:

• You understand what will actually fit (instead of hoping).
• Your ideas become more grounded and often more creative.
• You start noticing your garden in a completely different way.

It’s like giving yourself a map before you set out on the journey.

Want to Help Shape Something New?

I’m currently prepping for a new course that will show home gardeners how to plan a continuously blooming flower bed—the kind that lights up your garden from early spring to late autumn.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about what to plant where, or how to make your flower bed feel alive through the whole season… I’d love to hear from you.
👉 Click here to take the 2-minute survey


(It’s quick and casual—just a few questions about what inspires you and where you sometimes get stuck.)

If You’ve Never Measured Before… You’re Not Alone

So many home gardeners skip this step—not out of laziness, but just because no one’s ever shown them how helpful it can be.

But once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder how you ever planned without it.
And no, it doesn’t have to be fancy. All you really need is:

• a tape measure (length depending on the area you plan to measure)
• a notebook to sketch the area to be measured
• some quiet time in your garden
• preferably someone to help you, if the area to measure is slightly larger, and you’re using a tape measure to map it

That’s it.


And from there? Everything else (your layout, use of space, your planting areas) flows much more naturally.

Here’s Something to Think About Before Winter

If you're hoping to design a flower bed that really sings next spring and summer, there is still some time to start observing and measuring.

Because once you’ve got a rough idea of your space with exact measures, you’ll have everything you need to start planning over the winter months. And when February rolls around? You’ll be way ahead of the game.

It’s one small action that’ll make your spring planning so much easier.

P.S. Click here to share your thoughts and get ready for the next step. 
(This will help you reflect on this past season, give you a place to drop your notes, and prep for the following spring!)