As autumn settles in and our gardens begin to slow down, it can be tempting to turn our attention indoors and leave thoughts of the garden until spring.

But before you do, this is actually a very useful time to think about what you want from your garden next year.

After a whole summer spent living with your outdoor space, you know what worked – and what didn’t. You know where you naturally chose to sit, where it was too hot or too shady, where you felt overlooked, whether the entertaining space was really big enough, and which parts of the garden you barely used at all.

Those observations are incredibly valuable. And by February, when the garden looks completely different and memories of long summer evenings have faded, they’re surprisingly easy to forget.

So, if I were considering transforming my garden in 2027 – whether through a complete redesign or a series of smaller improvements – I’d start now, simply by taking stock.

Before the weather really turns, sit outside with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, look around, and ask yourself a few key questions:

Which areas do I naturally gravitate towards, and which spaces are rarely used?

Think about everyday life as well as special occasions. How do you want to live in and with your garden, in both summer and winter?

Large family barbecues? Casual drinks with neighbours? Intimate dinners with friends that stretch long into the evening? The answer will shape the space you need.

Look beyond what you can see. Think about noise, privacy, smells, wind, awkward access routes or areas that simply don’t feel comfortable to spend time in.

It might be a beautiful tree, a favourite view, birdsong in the morning, or the scent of a particular plant. These are often the elements worth preserving.

Think about places where you’ve felt happiest outdoors. Perhaps it’s a holiday destination, a favourite hotel, a public garden, or a friend or family member’s garden that holds special memories.

A wildlife pond, outdoor kitchen, productive vegetable garden, fire pit or cosy seating area? Add them to the wish list – it’s your dream garden after all.

Child-safe planting, space for pets, low-maintenance borders, wildlife-friendly features or accessible pathways may all be priorities.

Is it primarily a personal sanctuary, a family space, an entertaining hub, or something that will help maximise your property’s appeal and value?

Your investment may depend on how long you plan to stay in your home and what you want your garden to achieve.

As thoughts and ideas occur to you, make a note of them. I use the Notes app on my phone, but anything that works for you is fine. The important thing is to capture those observations while the experience of summer is still fresh in your mind.

Photographs can be useful too. Take a few pictures of the garden at different times of day, particularly of things you want to change. Come winter, they can be a surprisingly helpful reminder of how the space actually looked and felt when you were using it.

When you’re ready to move forward, these notes become the beginnings of your personal garden design brief. They help guide decisions, prioritise spending and ensure your finished garden genuinely reflects how you want to live.

Whether you’re planning to tackle the project yourself, or work with a garden designer and landscaper, a clear brief will help keep the project on track – stopping you getting carried away with ultimately insignificant details (whilst missing the big things), and helping to ensure the finished garden ticks all the right boxes for you.

And autumn is certainly not too late to start thinking about next year’s garden.

So, when is the best time to design a garden? Any time.

But one of the best times to work out what you really want from it is now – while the memories of summer are still fresh.