I’m not convinced by the recent rage for garden makeovers, which is why I have been watching sceptically as the country disappears beneath layers of decking and a jungle of cordylines, Verbena bonariensis and the whitestemmed birch Betula utilis var. jacquemontii.

Glass walls, trendy plants and ultramarine fence panels may look all right in the flush of newness, but what happens when that expensive decking becomes an algae-covered skating rink – or even worse, a desirable residence for rats?

That’s why I believe in commonsense garden design. And my advice to anyone starting a new garden would be to wait, don’t be swayed by fashion, enjoy the creative process and take things slowly. It’s natural to want to make something beautiful that reflects your taste, but if you go too fast, it’s easy to end up spending the ensuing years trying to sort out your mistakes – and your bank balance.

All seasons

If you can bear it, try to leave any major works for a year, and watch your garden through all the seasons. Note the places where frost hangs around – these frost pockets are the spots to avoid when placing tender plants. And if you have a cat or dog, watch where they like to bask on a warm day. They will nearly always choose the sunniest spot in the garden, which you may want to commandeer for a patio or seating area.

Look at where the shadows fall, and draw up a rough plan showing the main areas of sunshine and shade. These will change over the year and according to the time of day, helping you to place plants, features and seating. In a small garden, you may need to provide one seating area for the morning and another for the evening to make the most of available light. Just remember to move the cat first, though!

Acid or alkaline?

Test the soil to find out whether it is acid or alkaline, as this will have a big influence on the species you will be able to grow.

Soil texture can be checked by taking a handful of earth and rubbing it between your fingers. If it feels gritty, and is difficult to form into a shape, this indicates the presence of sand. However, if you can press it together into a ball or sausage shape, there’s a lot of clay. You may also want to dig down to see what’s underneath – there may be rubble or poor subsoil close to the surface.

The plants themselves often give you clues as to the condition of your soil. Lots of daisies or moss on a lawn can indicate compaction. Patches of purple flowered selfheal, or the creeping buttercup Ranunculus repens, usually show that the ground is damp and poorly drained.

Even if you feel like giving up, try and see any problem areas as containing clues as to their best use. Turning negatives into positives works as much in a garden as in real life. For example, a dry, sunless area beside a hedge could be the best place to site a shed or a children’s play area. Alternatively, dig in plenty of organic matter, and plant with ferns and shade-loving groundcover.

Good gardens evolve slowly, and can take up to 10 years to start looking good. This is one of the reasons why it’s so important when selecting plants, to check how big they will eventually become. Planting with this in mind may leave your garden looking a bit bare initially, but remind yourself of what it will look like in a few years’ time. In the meantime, colour in the gaps with drifts of bulbs and annuals, and some cleverly placed containers.

Remembering the principle of ‘right plant, right place’ should help get your plants off to a good start. Hellebores and dog’stooth violets, for example, need woodland conditions and do best in moist, dappled shade, with plenty of leaf mould or organic matter.

If you have alkaline soil, and can’t do without acid-loving azaleas or blueberries, grow them in pots of ericaceous compost. Working with nature rather than against it is a lot easier in the long-run.

Make a sketch

Don’t forget to make a list of existing plants, indicating their position on a sketch map. You could even take a look at what seems to be growing well in nearby gardens. It’s quite probable that similar cultivars will thrive for you too.

Hard landscaping is like the skeleton of a garden, so plan carefully before putting in permanent features such as paths, ponds, walls or pergolas, and always check for water or gas mains below the surface before beginning any structural work.

Paths, for example, should follow the routes you naturally choose to take around a site. There’s no point in creating an artistically meandering route to the compost heap only to find that when it’s in place, your family prefers to cut corners and wear a line through your lawn.

No garden exists in isolation, and while it can be tempting to rely on neighbours’ fences and hedges for protection, always allow for the fact that later occupants may well decide to rip everything out, leaving your garden exposed. So try and build up your garden’s borders. It may seem expensive, but is worthwhile in the long-run.

Once you’ve decided on your basic garden layout, try marking out the different areas with a lawnmower. By using a lawn like a sketchbook, you can cut out shapes and paths before making a commitment to the actual digging and planting. Canes can be positioned at strategic points to indicate trees and shrubs.

You could even copy Beth Chatto, who apparently marked out the planting areas for her famous dry garden, using artistically draped lengths of hosepipe. But do remember that hoses can be unwieldy, with minds of their own – and you don’t want to end up in hospital.

Convenient location

With the growth of interest in growing fruit and vegetables, common sense still plays a big part in planning. A recommended principle is to start at your own back door, growing herbs and salads as close to the kitchen as possible. On dark, wet evenings, the last thing you’ll want to do is trek to the bottom of the garden to gather the ingredients for a meal.

Try to place annual vegetables, sweet peas and other high maintenance plants, somewhere you’re likely to pass every day, such as near a parking space, or on the way to the washing line or the chicken run.

In the current economic climate, even if you don’t spend huge sums of money you can have a beautiful garden. Be wary of instant fixes, and remember that a garden is a living, growing, ever-changing space, not just an outdoor room for indulging yourself with the latest fads. Plan it with a little common sense, and you’ll have something to enjoy for a lifetime.

Charlotte Philcox is a broadcaster with BBC Radio Norfolk, writer and keen organic gardener. As a part-time lecturer at a local horticultural college, she also runs her own courses on kitchen garden history, organic gardening, useful plants and gardening for wildlife, and gives regular talks to WI and gardening groups. Flower shows such as Hampton Court exhibit the latest fashions in plants and garden design, but don’t be too quick to follow suit in your own garden.