Corpus Galabau · Guide · November 2026
1. Survey what is there
Before you think about plants and materials, take an honest look at the plot:
- Sun and shade: Where does the sun shine in the morning, at midday and in the evening? Where is the house, and where do neighbouring buildings or trees cast shade?
- Soil: Is the soil loamy and heavy, sandy, or heavily compacted after construction? Does water stand on the surface after rain?
- Slope and levels: Even small differences in height decide where rainwater runs.
- Existing features: Which trees, hedges and paths should stay? A healthy old tree is often worth more than any new planting.
- Pipes, cables and access: Where do water, power or sewer lines run? How do machines and materials get onto the plot?
2. Clarify how you will use the garden
A garden for a family with small children looks different from a garden for people who mainly want to sit quietly on the terrace. Useful questions: Do you need a lawn for playing? Where will you eat and barbecue? Would you like vegetable beds, raised beds or a place for compost and bins? How important is privacy from the neighbours?
3. Define zones and paths
Zones emerge from what is there and how you will use it: for example a terrace by the house, a lawn, beds, a quiet seating area and a utility area. Paths connect these zones. Plan paths where people actually walk – otherwise trodden tracks appear in the lawn. For paths and terraces it pays to think early about permeable surfaces. Read more in our article Paving a terrace and garden path.
4. Assess maintenance honestly
Every area needs care, just to different degrees. Lawns must be mown regularly in the growing season, hedges need cutting once or twice a year, and perennial beds need tidying in spring. Densely planted beds with ground-cover perennials keep weeds in check better than bare soil.
Important for front gardens: under § 8 of the NRW building code (Landesbauordnung NRW), unbuilt areas of built-on plots should be able to absorb water and be greened or planted. Pure gravel gardens are therefore generally not permitted. A low-maintenance front garden works better with robust plants than with gravel and membrane.
5. Plan budget and phases
Not everything has to be built in one year. It makes sense to follow an order in which later work does not damage what is finished: first earthworks, pipes and drainage, then paths and terrace, then planting and finally lawn. The best planting time for most woody plants and perennials is spring and autumn.
Which factors determine the costs and what you can claim for tax purposes is explained in our article What does a garden cost?.
What you can prepare for the first meeting
- a site plan or a simple sketch of the plot with approximate dimensions
- photos from several directions
- a list: what must stay, what should go, what would you like?
- your time frame and a rough idea of the budget
How we can help
Corpus Galabau handles the planning with a design sketch and planting list, the construction and, if you wish, the maintenance afterwards. The site visit and first meeting are free and without obligation.
