How to Start Planning Your 2026 Garden—Now

Winter can feel like a pause button in the garden. Yet from a garden designer’s point of view, winter is not an ending, but a valuable reset of the entire gardening year.

Contrary to popular belief, your friend or neighbour’s garden that feels effortless in summer and seems to “just work” when the sun shines are almost always the result of decisions made months and months earlier! That’s because winter planning removes urgency from the process. It replaces reactive planting with thoughtful design. And it leads to calmer, more confident choices when spring finally arrives.

We know what you’re thinking… No one wants to work in the garden in the bitter cold! That’s why we’ve put together five planning ideas you can put into action from the warmth of your home now, for a garden that thrives later.

First of All, Why Winter Is the Smartest Time to Plan

Spring is the time when garden centres burst into colour, social media fills with planting inspiration and suddenly it feels like decisions must be made immediately. This often leads to rushed purchases, mismatched plants and gardens that look good briefly but that never quite grows into its full potential.

In contrast, winter offers a calmer energy. Without so many distractions, you can take a step back and assess your garden strategically. There’s no urgency, no pressure to plant and no sense of getting “left behind”. This allows you to think clearly about what you want your garden to look like, rather than reacting to what just happens to be available.

1. See Your Garden Clearly

One of the advantages of winter is that the underlying structure of your garden becomes visible, as foliage dies back and seasonal distractions fade, the shapes, lines and open spaces of your garden reveal themselves more honestly than at any other time of year.

This clear perspective makes it easier to identify focal points. From inside your house, you should be able assess views and sightlines, and take note of areas that feel unresolved or imbalanced. Even if you spend minimal time outdoors, these observations give valuable insight into whether your garden relies too heavily on seasonal colour or whether it has a strong framework that can support long-term design going into 2026.

2. Define Your Garden’s Purpose

With no immediate tasks competing for attention, winter is the perfect season to clarify what you truly want from your garden. Now you can think strategically about how the space should be used, how it should feel and how it relates to your home.

You can consider this from both the practical and aesthetic perspectives, whether that means creating a sanctuary for quiet reflection or a space for entertaining… or a combination of both. If you define your garden’s intent now, you will be able to make future decisions that align with your vision.

3. Design Before You Plant

Don’t fall into the trap of buying plants first and trying to make them fit later!

Winter planning reverses that approach. By carefully considering the structure and function of your garden first, you can then select plants with intention. Each choice then complements the wider design rather than filling gaps randomly. When spring arrives, planting becomes a natural extension of your plan, and every element feels deliberate rather than reactive.

Thoughtful planning now allows for a garden that matures beautifully into 2026. Not to mention it reduces waste, thus saving you money.

Pro tip: Here are some common garden design mistakes to watch out for, and how to avoid them.

4. Focus on Year-Round Garden Interest

Winter planning enables focus on the elements that define a garden beyond seasonal colour. Trees, shrubs, paths, terraces and boundaries create the framework that gives your garden form, flow and longevity. These decisions shape how your garden matures over time, so that it works visually and functionally throughout the year. Considering these elements now allows for careful planning, realistic budgeting and a space that looks complete even before the first plants are added.

Winter planning also encourages you to consider subtler aspects of the garden like evergreen structure, bark textures, seed heads and architectural forms that provide interest even when plants are dormant. Paying attention to these details now means you can create a garden that looks good in every season, not just during peak flowering months.

5. Work With a Garden Designer

Winter is also the ideal season to collaborate with a professional garden designer. Without the urgency of planting season, there is room for thoughtful discussion, idea exploration and refinement of plans.

A garden designer can help translate your intentions into a cohesive strategy to avoid costly mistakes and create a vision that evolves naturally. By the time spring arrives, your garden will be a clear, actionable plan ready to bring to life.

Working with a designer now also allows for a staged plan that can be gradually implemented throughout the year, minimising disruption to your life and making sure that every aspect of your garden is executed with professional precision.

If You Don’t Mind Working in the Cold…

Winter can be the perfect time to prepare your garden for spring. Even in the frost, there are many things you can do to set your garden up for success in 2026, including pruning, early planting and soil preparation. Taking these actions now means you’ll be ahead of the game when the weather warms and your plants spring back to life.

To help you get started, we’ve put together another five expert tips from our award-winning garden designer David to prepare your garden for spring, so you can step into the new season with a garden that’s ready to flourish.

Start Planning Your 2026 Garden

If you want to be able to enjoy your garden this year, there is no better time to start planning than now. 

We work with clients across the North West of England throughout the winter to shape gardens that mature beautifully in the months ahead. Whether you are considering a complete redesign or simply want clarity before spring, get in touch to discuss how we can help you plan your garden for 2026.