Write the job to be done
Name the one change that would make the garden more useful.
garden design brief template
Turn preferences into a checkable brief.
A garden design brief should state the primary use, fixed conditions, must-keep features, desired feeling, maintenance limit, visual references, unknowns and stopping points. It should distinguish what is known from what still needs measurement or professional advice.
Editorially reviewed August 24, 2026.
This AI-generated comparison is visual inspiration, not a measured plan, specification, safety assessment, cost estimate, local approval, plant recommendation, or construction guarantee.
Three visible decisions
Make the concept answer the real question.
List fixed and flexible items
Separate boundaries, services and retained features from movable furniture and visual preferences.
Define evidence and limits
Attach photos and observations, then mark dimensions, costs, plants, permissions and technical decisions as unverified until checked.
What stays unchanged
Keep the source space recognizable.
The example brief retains the door, gate, fence, mature tree, drain, path, grade, services and reference camera.
Planning checklist
Check what the image cannot know.
Measure routes and fixed objects
Record doors, gates, paths, furniture movement, utilities, drains, roots, and maintenance access. Do not infer clearance from the image.
Observe light and exposure
Note direct sun, shade, wind, overlooking, and views from inside across more than one time and season.
Trace water and levels
Locate falls, low points, downpipes, drains, and recurring wet areas. Preserve existing outlets.
Verify local choices
Check permissions, product information, plant suitability, mature size, toxicity, invasiveness, upkeep, and applicable safety requirements.
Common mistakes and stopping points
Know when the visual exercise must stop.
Stop before converting the brief into construction, purchasing or planting decisions without site measurements and appropriate verification.
Garden Design Brief Template FAQ
What belongs in a garden design brief?
Include use, users, fixed conditions, must-keeps, preferences, maintenance, evidence, unknowns and stopping points.
How long should a garden brief be?
It should be concise enough to use but specific enough that two concepts can be compared against the same requirements.
Can AI write the final specification?
AI can organize a brief, but technical specifications, costs, local rules and plant choices require verification.
Test one direction against the real constraints.
Upload a level, wide photo to compare restrained concepts before making physical changes.
AI-generated visualizations are concepts. Check local conditions and consult a qualified professional before construction or planting.