This is a phrase that folks in the plant world use to describe how a specific plant or garden design might change throughout the seasons. For example, an evergreen has a single season of interest, as it remains static throughout the year. A mountain ash, on the other hand, has four seasons of interest; spring flowers, delicate summer foliage, autumn colour and fruit, and an attractive open framework to appreciate in the winter. When considering the plants to choose for any garden, but especially a small one, you should think about what looks good at different times of year.

When planning a new garden, I always think about the winter first. It’s when we crave colour and interest the most, so it seems the logical place to start. Native dogwoods, when cut hard in the spring, will have vibrant red-to-orange stems that will shine out from the snow. Burning bush maintains delicate, jewel-like red berries through the winter months. Birch and cherry trees have interesting bark and sweeping, open branches that will sway in the winter wind, making the garden feel alive. This is when an expert really comes in handy – it’s hard to plan a garden so that something is always looking good. But with good advice and even better planning, you can have something blooming from the last frost to the first snow.

As our gardens become smaller and smaller, proper use of vertical space becomes more important. Trees are as diverse a species as any – there is at least one out there that will work in your space. Even in the smallest garden, there are options. Fruit trees can be a wonderful option for small sunny gardens, as they are grown on a dwarfing root stock that will limit their ultimate size. Trees are also crucial wildlife habitats, and anyone interested in make their garden a wildlife haven should be looking for species with spring flowers and autumn fruit. And, again, there are many trees that will grow happily for many years in large pots.

This gardening ethos, championed by revolutionary English gardener Beth Chatto, is as simple as it sounds. Rather than trying to force plants to grow in conditions that simply don’t suit them, it’s crucial to choose species that will thrive in your garden. This goes back to understanding your garden and your soil – if your soil is sandy and dry, consider a gravel garden or a prairie-style scheme, with plants suited to heat and drought. And don’t despair! From my experience, most plants will grow very happily in a pot, as long as they have winter protection. So even if you had your heart set on growing something that won’t like your soil conditions, there are still options available. You will save yourself a lot of effort and disappointment by considering your conditions carefully before you buy.

Nowadays, there’s more choice than even, both in plant varieties and actual design styles. Pick up some gardening magazines and books, and check out the gardens in your neighbourhood. There’s something to learn from every garden, even those considerably larger than our own. What do you like about a design? What don’t you like? How could you emulate it within your own space? Do you want to go ultra-modern, or create a space that’s as naturalistic as possible? Decide on a general mood, style, function and colour scheme before you start buying plants. This will allow for a more cohesive, professional look in the long-run.

Measure. This is another one for your handy notebook. It’s important to understand how much practical, useable space you have. Measure pathways and patios, lawns and garden beds. If you’re looking to expand or create new garden beds, remember that functional pathways should be wider and straighter than pathways leading to, for example, a bench under a tree

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