I'm wondering if anyone has found garden design software to be useful. Is it sufficiently superior to graph paper? If so, what program(s) do you like? What program did you try and found to be annoying and/or useless?

I'd like to be able to do some planning before planting, keep an inventory of what I've got out there, and keep records of when I planted things and how they did.

I did a quick browse at my local Best Buy yesterday and saw "Instant Lanscaping" and "LandDesigner 3D" for sale. Each was $20.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001

Answers

I have LandDesigner 3D. (It actually belongs to my mother, and I should really return it to her.) I find it very difficult to use. I tried to use it when we first moved here, but I got so frustrated with trying to create the effect I wanted that I finally just gave up and went back to graph paper. To be fair, I'm not very good with spacial relations and all that, so the software might work just fine for you.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001

I hate LandDesigner 3D. My lot is an odd shape and it's almost impossible to recreate it in the software, even though I have all the measurements from a survey. You're supposed to be able to place a house on the plan, but I never could make one that matched my house's dimensions. Putting the trees and plants in was fairly easy, but the results weren't that much better than drawing them in on a sheet of graph paper. It comes with a couple of reference materials (like a garden encyclopedia), but if you have these in a book, they're not necessary.

I didn't like this software at all. It was too hard to use, in my opinion.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001

Thanks for the feedback. I'll avoid LandDesigner 3D.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2001

So it's not just me that hates LandDesigner.

I'm currently trying Sierra Garden Planner, which is a diary type program as well as a designing package. I need something that will help me schedule pruning and stuff like that when I buy all these new plants.

But I'm just figuring it out, so I don't know what I think yet. So far it's mainly confusing.

Lisa

-- Anonymous, June 22, 2001

I have just tried out Garden Composer. Although the programme promises a lot, inclusive of slopes, 360 degree 3D views, day and night settings to try out lighting, etc. there are some serious design problems. For example you cannot save your design, as the programme will not allow you to register as a user. The online help file is incomplete, leaving you often to wonder on how earth you activate its functions. Unfortunately my various emails to the publishing/software design company remain unanswered.

-- Anonymous, July 28, 2001

I second and third the thumbs down on all the Sierra Home landscaping products. But the question still remains...is there a good program, repeat, good program out there? Cad? mac graphics?

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001