An afternoon looking at soil can change a whole planting plan.
The most useful part of a first visit is sometimes the least photogenic. A handful of soil, a shallow hole and a little time can tell us how to begin.
Notice what you have.
Does the soil crumble or hold together? Does water soak in or sit on the surface? What is already growing well? These observations are a starting point, and a soil test can help answer questions the eye cannot.
The planting plan begins below the planting.
We prefer to work with the ground rather than replace it with a generic idea of good soil. A chalky, free-draining site offers possibilities that a damp clay garden does not, and the reverse is equally true.
Leave time for preparation
Compaction, perennial weeds and poor drainage are easier to address before the plants arrive. That work is not glamorous. It is what gives the garden a chance to settle in.