1. Clear up fallen leaves - especially from lawns, ponds and beds
   
2. Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
3. Plant tulip bulbs for a spring display next year
4. Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
5. Plant out winter bedding
6. Cover brassicas with netting if pigeons are a problem
7. Insulate outdoor containers from frost - bubblewrap works well
8. Stop winter moth damage to fruit trees using grease bands around the trunks
9. Put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden
10. Use a seasonal bonfire - where this is allowed - to dispose of excess debris unfit for composting

 For more information see www.rhs.org.uk/advice/in-month/november

Surely everybody would like to know what they are going to get before they invest a lot of money in a garden construction ? How are the spaces are going to feel when walking through them ? How does the overall design fit with the rest of the property ? What could the planting look like ? Do the proposed materials work well in the scheme ? Do the proportions of the design work ? Have any changes in levels been taken into account ? Do the focal points stand out as planned ? Knowing what these outcomes are likely to be is the essence of a concept.

In the examples above from a current project some of the previous questions have been answered: a client can see how the spaces in the proposed design work with each other, the textures in the concept give an indication of what real materials could look, proposed changes in levels are clearly defined, the perspectives give an indication of how it would feel to walk around the new garden and the planting examples illustrate how each border could look at maturity.

So, why wouldn't you want a concept as part of the design process ?