Garden Design Software

Hi all.. I am looking for a simple, graphical (no databases please), free (heh) garden design program.. Nothing fancy. No 3-D rendered foliage and flowers.. Just a top down view of the yard kind of thing..

Any ideas? Thanks in advance,

Nick

NjMcMullen,

One garden design program I am considering is Garden Composer for $39.95. http://www.gardencomposer.com/index.shtml

I am also interested in hearing other's recommendations.

There used to be a really simple (and free) software program through one of the gardening sites that went belly-up a couple years ago. I wish someone else would come along with another one. (Nothing fancy, just the ability to plot out a garden bed online....)

Here one site I found - can't recommend it as I haven't tried it out:

garden planner: http://www.smallblueprinter.com/garden/

I've got a couple of the more expensive software programs but I find they're cumbersome to use, hog a LOT of memory, and the renderings aren't all that good when you boil it down. So they don't get a lot of use from me, which is too bad when I consider how much we spent on them....

http://www.flowersfantasy.co.uk/
Lot's of information and a lot of fun. Used by many professional landscapers that I know.

"eyes"

This message was edited Jul 12, 2004 11:12 AM

Thanks all.. I stumbled upon smallblueprinter.com's Garden Planner, and that is a nifty little tool.. I am afraid I may just resort back to the old pencil and paper method though, as it gives me much more flexibility.. (Not to mention portability).


Thanks guys,

Nick

Drop - I've got Garden Composer and it's too complex to work with it regularly. Ok for a big job of a brand new bed, but in the end not what I was looking for.

Thanks, langbr!

It is nice to hear from someone who has the experience. Did you end up getting another one? I am looking for a software that could help me not just to design a bed but also to keep track of my plants and perhaps linking with Outlook to give me a reminder once a while. Yep, that is my dream app.

I might download that Flowers&Fantasy "eyes" posted.

I had used Better Home and Garden's online landscape designing tool. The functions are very limited. But, it's free.

Drop - no I haven't tried anything since Garden Composer. I use the DG Journal for keeping track of all of mine, but am a bit behind from this year's flurry of activity. Have a looksee at what I've got in my Journal. It does have To Do's you can enter but you have to check them periodically.

I was looking more for something to help design new beds using photos of my yard. I'm pretty darn good on the computer and I just found Garden Composer kind of "clunky" to work with.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Flowers & Fantasy if you try it.

Brenda

Hi Nick
I was so glad to see your post because I've been lookint for the same thing. Checked out all of the "free" stuff available, but it just didn't seem to fit my needs. I'm doing it the old fashioned way with paper & pencil, and doing a diaghram of my daylily bed. That's all I want.....a way to keep track of the plants, and where they are in the garden. I'll check out "eyes" site also.
If you run across anything that will fit the bill, please let me know. Thanks
Diane