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Before you begin to mark out the site or prepare the soil, draw a plan on paper. Measure the chosen area of the garden. Scale down the actual measurements so that you can fit them on to sketch paper or squared graph paper. 1 metre can be represented by 4cm (1 m = 4cm). The sides of the original plan shown measured 12 × 12cm, representing 3 × 3m. If you use imperial measure, scale the measurements down so that the actual measurement of 10 × 10ft is represented by a square with sides 5 × 5in (ie 2ft = 1 in).

Shape is an important consideration. You may want a square herb garden with equal sides, or prefer a rectangle to take into account an existing site with irregular sides. Circular herb gardens are attractive and suit a small garden. In a large herb garden you could combine squares, rectangles, triangles and circles (see diagram).

Once the plan is on paper, indicate the points of the compass to give it a directional reference – knowing where the sun casts shadow or is at its strongest helps you position plants correctly. You can then avoid planting tall herbs where they block out light for less vigorous or low-growing plants.