Diagram 1

This is a typical rectangular garden belonging to a terrace house. The position of trees and the drainage has been marked in and a shed and rotary washing line have been shown to scale at the side of the plan.

If your garden is an odd shape you can still make an accurate plan by using string, or another measuring tape, as a datum line set at a right angle to any convenient building.

©Christine Wilson

Diagram 2

Mark in everything that is at right angles and can be drawn on the graph paper grid, in this case the buildings and terrace. The datum line has been set in the centre of the garden against the side of the house and measurements taken at regular intervals to points on the boundary.

It's important to measure the points where the boundary changes direction. Mark the datum line on the plan, plot in the points taken from it and connect them to make the boundary.

If you don't have a centimeter scale you can check the length of any diagonal lines by marking their measurements on the edge of a piece of paper and comparing them with the graph paper squares.

If you doubt your ability to judge an accurate right angle you can employ a method used by the ancient Egyptians. You will need a long piece of string and 3 pegs.

Diagram 3

A triangle with the ratio 3:4:5 has a right angle in the corner opposite the longest side. This is useful to know if you are laying out anything rectangular. For the next stage you will need a pad of cheap tracing paper to begin work on your plan.

©Christine Wilson