Peter Dowdall: Now's the time to draw and plan your dream garden

Use this month to outline your layout and to consider raised beds, wildlife-friendly features and plants, or even a plunge pool

Now is the time to design your dream garden, advises Peter Dowdall. File picture

Well, it's all over once more and we’re back to normal. January is a month which can very often go under the radar when we may just keep the head down and hope for spring to arrive as quickly as possible. But this is a month of quiet promise, a month where the groundwork for a fruitful year is laid. 

Gardeners always need to be thinking at least one season ahead and now as everything is happening slowly in the garden, we can get so much done, in preparation for the months ahead.