Designing a garden can be difficult and time-consuming. It’s easy to get carried away or be confused about the multitude of options available – from selecting plants and trees to constructing various features in the garden, like walkways, fountains, and fences. However, when software can do everything right now, why not garden design?
If you’re looking to update your outdoor space and design the backyard or garden of your dreams, then a landscape design software program can help remove much of the guesswork and overwhelm.
Your landscaping plans can be easily arranged, edited, and updated with the best landscape design software. Many programs even have additional features allowing you to plan outdoor fixtures like decks, pools, fountains, and covered outdoor spaces. Read on and learn more about it.
Table of Contents
Here are the 10 Best Garden Design Software
1. Smart Draw
SmartDraw is the go-to choice for people looking for a comprehensive, easy-to-use diagram and drawing software. With SmartDraw, you can create any kind of professional diagram quickly. It features a wide range of templates to choose from, all designed to industry standards.
Whether you need to quickly sketch out a flowchart or design an intricate building plan, SmartDraw provides easy tools to finish the job quickly and accurately.
On top of this, SmartDraw doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. For those who are hesitant about making such a large purchase without giving it a try first, there is always the option of signing up for the free trial period before committing to anything long-term.
Plus, SmartDraw’s device compatibility ensures you can access your diagrams wherever you go—access is available on Mac computers, Windows PCs, iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. Overall, it’s the best overall choice for creating diagrams and presentations that meet high-quality standards at an affordable cost.
2. Chief Architect Home Designer Software
Chief Architect Home Designer Software is great for creating beautiful and functional decks and patios. This comprehensive software package has all the necessary features to quickly and easily design decks, patios, gardens, outdoor kitchens, walkways, and more.
The software has realistic 3D modeling capabilities that allow users to preview their finished projects from any angle with natural shading in real time. In addition, the smart object libraries are packed with over 6,500 objects that can be edited as needed and used immediately in a project or template.
Chief Architect Home Designer offers both Mac and Windows device compatibility, so it doesn’t matter what type of computer you have – the software will run smoothly on either platform. Best of all, anyone interested in trying out this powerful home design tool can take advantage of the free trial period before making the purchase decision.
3. iScape
iScape is one of the best landscape design apps available for iOS devices. It provides users with various powerful design tools, allowing them to create beautiful outdoor spaces easily.
The app offers many features, including detailed 3D models, customizable lawn shapes and textures, realistic photo-based plants, and more. Plus, users also get access to helpful advice from experienced horticulturists who can guide them in the right direction.
The iScape costs range from $0 to $30 per month, depending on what features you wish to use. There’s also a free app version that allows users to explore its core capabilities without paying anything.
The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, so users can easily transfer projects across different platforms. Additionally, iScape supports cloud storage, so all your designs are safe and accessible anytime.
4. VizTerra
VizTerra is a best-in-class 3D visualization software that allows users to create stunning 3D visuals. With features like terrain, site contours, and the ability to easily add different structures and objects, VizTerra makes any visual project a breeze.
From professional architects looking to quickly create a design model or weekend DIYers exploring their dream projects, VizTerra can provide the tools needed for an immersive experience.
Plus, a free trial is available, so you can try it out before investing in the full version. The software currently only supports Windows devices, but more device compatibility may be introduced in the future. Whether creating simple 2D diagrams to explain complex concepts or crafting detailed 3D visuals with multiple layers of depth, ViZterra will surely meet your needs.
5. Gardena’s My Garden
Gardena’s My Garden is a powerful web-based landscaping app that’s fun and simple for gardeners of all skill levels. It starts with users choosing either a custom design or one of the pre-made templates and then setting the chosen area size and surface material, such as lawn, decking, or gravel.
The app offers advanced features such as a drag-and-drop system to quickly add elements like trees, water features, planter boxes, and outdoor lighting. A key feature of Gardena’s My Garden is its irrigation system planner; based on your selected space size, it generates suitable plans while also cleverly suggesting Gardena products such as hoses and sprinklers to enhance the system.
Overall, this application is incredibly useful for gardeners looking to bring life into their green spaces. With its intuitive interface and flexibility in planning out gardens to personal tastes and its smart product marketing, My Garden is highly recommended for beginners or experts alike who want transformative results without much hassle.
6. Auto Desk
AutoDesk offers a comprehensive design software suite that is vital for landscape designers who need to create sophisticated visual effects. Creating eye-catching 2D plans and 3D renderings, designing freehand sketches, and building information modeling, AutoDesk provides the tools needed for expressing creative ideas and bringing visions to life.
The software is remarkably feature-rich and versatile but not as marketing-oriented as some of its competitors, so users may need to look elsewhere for presentation options.
With its complete suite of features, ease of use, and competitively low price point, AutoDesk is an ideal option for those seeking reliable design software without breaking the bank in the process.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced professional improving your craft — this comprehensive set of resources from Autodesk should be more than enough to meet your needs.
7. DynaSCAPE Design Suite
The DynaSCAPE Design Suite offers an intuitive and sophisticated set of features for professional landscapers. The program is designed to save time and money by allowing the user to drag and drop landscape element symbols, plant photos, stone catalogs, nightscape symbols, and price lists all into one centralized space.
The integrated product catalog from AquaScape Designs makes it very easy to shop for materials specific to your project right in the interface. It also integrates with Manage360, their business management suite.
Overall, the DynaSCAPE Design Suite is a great asset for professional landscapers with experience using software programs like this. This is due to the steep learning curve of having so many features in such a comprehensive program.
8. Vectorworks Landmark
Vectorworks Landmark is renowned for its robust design features and hefty price tag. It has become a popular choice for commercial landscape firms or larger firming with more advanced needs than the average landscaper. At the same time, smaller landscapers may not find enough value in the features to justify their cost.
Landmark has a robust set of features that will please even the most discerning professional. These include GIS integration, comprehensive hardscape, and irrigation tools, integration with multiple plant catalogs, BIM tools, and support for LEED project tracking via water budgeting.
Its collaborative features are among the best on the market, allowing integrated teams to quickly understand each others’ vision and plans without having to experience frustration later down the line due to discrepancies between team members.
It also utilizes virtual reality walkthroughs to give users a better feel of how the finished space will look in real-time. With so many top-of-the-line options at one’s fingertips, Vectorworks Landmark is easily one of the best landscape software available on the market today.
9. Garden Manager
Gardening can be difficult for even experienced green thumbs, and it’s especially tough for novice gardeners. However, a new app just released on the market will make it easier than ever. The Garden Manager app is here to remove all the complexity of managing an edible garden with the help of a virtual assistant.
This app takes newbies through step-by-step questions about what to plant, when, and how to care for their plants. It provides three different subscription services so that users can find out what is needed at each stage of the gardening process.
Plus, it harnesses weather station data in order to alert users if they need to cover up their plants in anticipation of an early frost. Even if you’ve never managed a garden before, Garden Manager has the answers and the solutions you need for success.
10. Smart Gardener
SmartGardener is a convenient and useful tool for the modern gardener. You can plan and manage your vegetable garden from the daydream stage to the harvest with this innovative online planner and accompanying mobile app.
It helps eliminate guesswork by tracking garden tasks, helping remind you when it’s time to work in the garden – whether it’s weeding, sowing new rows, or planting more vegetables. The planner also helps make life a little easier by sending weekly ‘To Do’ lists directly to your email inbox, meaning it’s easy for you never to forget those important tasks.
The amazing SmartGardener system doesn’t just help you keep track of what needs to be done in the garden and allows you to record your comments and notes alongside photos – all perfectly organized into one neat package.
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out as a novice, this system provides everything needed in order to create your perfect vegetable garden, enabling successful crop production easily and quickly each time.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. Most Landscape Architects Use What Kind Of Software?
There is no doubt that Revit is the most popular and dominant BIM tool throughout the AEC industry. Combined with the Environment plugin’s powerful features, it is regarded as the premier software for landscape architecture and site design.
2. Is There Software Specifically Designed For Garden Design?
Yes, there are a number of software programs that have been specifically designed to assist with garden design. PlantStudio is a popular program that allows you to create realistic 3D images of plants and gardens, including detailed shading and lighting effects.
GardenPlanner is another great option enabling users to plan their gardens in detail, with options for adding plants, trees, shrubs, and much more. Finally, LandscapePro is a powerful tool that allows users to easily create 3D images of their garden designs with advanced modeling features.
3. Is It Easy To Use And Learn?
One thing to consider when trying out a new program is elements like intuitive interfaces and menus, installation simplicity, and practicality in terms of what you need from this tool. It will be a winner if your life is made easier simply by running through the motions without much cognitive effort. That said, not all software has to be one-size-fits-all either – everyone learns differently, so making sure you look out for your style during selection can help you immensely down the line when implementation begins.
4. Is It Compatible With CAD Files?
CAD drafting is indispensable for many landscape design professionals who must create detailed plans for gardens, yards, and other outdoor spaces. It is a tried-and-true drafting program that allows for accurate and precise design, with features such as object snap, auto construction lines and arcs, and tools that allow designs to be easily editable. Its compatibility with other programs makes it easy to sync drafts between teams and firms in different locations.
5. Is It Suitable For Teams?
For large-scale projects involving teams of people, the landscape design software you decide on is incredibly important. Vectorworks offers the most collaboration options from any professional landscape design software, making it a great option for teams looking to create a stunning and functional garden design.
Conclusion
The best garden design software allows you to easily create detailed plans, collaborate with teams, and sync drafts between locations. SmartGardener is an excellent online planner and accompanying mobile app that makes it easy to plan and manage your vegetable garden from the daydream stage to the harvest.
