Look locally over the garden gate with Lucie Giselle Ponsford

February’s design focus is all about considering what is in short supply at this time of year; right now we are channelling the sunshine!

Seating areas that cater for the shifting sun throughout the day will create calming and enjoyable time spent outside. For instance, catching the last rays of sunshine is one of the simplest pleasures you can enjoy in your garden.

We all need hardstanding in our gardens. It is our primary focus when considering upgrading our outdoor space. However, our first thought is to pave outside our patio doors but this may not be the space you want to spend your time sitting in or invest thousands in. If north facing it will be too cold and if in the full sun of a south facing spot that is pretty unforgiving too in high summer.

In the UK, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. At midday, the sun is exactly south on a compass. This is because the UK is north of the equator. So google map your gardens, or get your compass out. The orientation of your garden will be the direction the house faces outwards into your garden.

Top Mimosa Design tip: track the sun around your garden, consider where you want to be at the different times of the day you are likely to have free time and invest in your hardstanding in those areas. For best results get your plan on paper and create curves or shapes you can repeat through the garden space.