GARDEN IDEAS NOW — SITE SURVEY & DECISION WORKSHEET
Original planning worksheet. Source check: 3 October 2026.
https://gardenideasnow.com/ideas/garden-survey-and-design/

Use this as an observation brief, not a boundary, utility, structural or drainage survey.
Keep a dated copy. Distinguish MEASURED, OBSERVED, ASSUMED and TO CHECK.

1. PEOPLE & PURPOSE
Location and climate:
Who uses the garden, including mobility, reach, sensory and access needs:
Must-have activities:
Optional wishes:
Time, physical effort and help available for care:
Children, pets, allergies and supervision needs:

2. BASE DRAWING
Baseline and orientation:
Boundary lengths and diagonals:
Doors/gates: position, swing, clear opening and route:
Steps, slopes and level changes requiring a survey:
Retained surfaces, structures, plants and trees:
Visible services/covers and overhead lines:
Utility-location action required before excavation:
Boundary ownership, lease restrictions and local permissions to verify:

3. CONDITIONS — RECORD BY AREA, WITH DATES
Direct sun by time of day and season:
Shade source and tree-root competition:
Soil texture, pH test location/date/result and limitations:
Moisture after rain and in dry periods:
Water source, runoff direction and unresolved drainage:
Wind, salt exposure, reflected heat and frost pockets:
Site history or contamination questions before food growing:
Views to keep/screen and existing habitat to retain:

4. ALTERNATIVES
Option A: arrangement / benefit / compromise / rejection condition:
Option B: arrangement / benefit / compromise / rejection condition:
Option C if useful:
Selected option and reason:
Rejected option and reason:

5. FULL-SIZE TRIAL
Furniture, door/gate movement and service route tested:
Turning, passing, reaching and working positions tried by intended users:
Adult plant space and maintenance access checked:
Remaining conflict and next action:

6. DELIVERY & CARE
Professional input needed: survey / tree / structure / drainage / access / soil / other:
Who will resolve each question, by when:
Phase 1: investigation and necessary safety/access work:
Phase 2: justified infrastructure and surfaces:
Phase 3: compatible planting and establishment:
Deferred decoration:
Budget currency, quotation dates, delivery, labor, disposal, tax and contingency:
Watering method, establishment responsibility and absence backup:
Seasonal care, failure signals and review date:

7. KEEP THE EVIDENCE
Drawing version/export filename:
Plant sources and exact botanical/cultivar names:
Quantity assumptions and budget filename:
Observation photographs kept privately:
What changed after the first season:

Continue at https://gardenideasnow.com/notebook/ and export a portable backup.
Local professional advice and the actual site's conditions take precedence over an illustrative plan.