computer program for garden layout

Do you know of a computer program that can be used to design a new garden ?
I'd like to make a drawing of the present landscape, fence with surrounding ground, then add elevated raised beds to the drawing. I would like to try to make it as professional as possible, given my limited ability.
Just a project to take up some idle time and learning as I go.
A free or pay for is ok, however I really don't want to get into those Adobe prices.

M$ Office Visio is a great tool for making all kinds of drawings and diagrams. If you don't want to pay the $13/mo. to use that, there are open source versions from Open Office and Libre Office that you can download and use for free.

If you have some computer drawing skills, you can also download and use an illustration program (very similar to Adobe Illustrator) called Inkscape, also for free.

Jimmy,

At least several seed companies now offer computerized garden-planning programs.

se one by www.growveg.com, offered by Territorial Seeds.  You can add fences, garden structures, sheds, raised beds, etc., etc., and it even has an SFG mode!

There's an initial free trial, then it's $25 per year (although I think the price just went up slightly).

Highly recommended!

This will be where my new beds will live. There is much more on each side of this photo. Elevated around 2 feet with 8 inch sides, using existing fences for climbing trellises. I wont go over three feet wide for they will only be accessed from one side  They will be 10 foot long beds with around 20 or so inches between sections.  4 x 4 posts will support each corner with 2 post for middle support. A toll / storage shed will be close by as will a small glass house for seedlings in spring.
This is basically what my plans are for now..Things do change though, rather quickly, how I know that one..

Google Sketchup is a great free program.

jimmy cee wrote:This will be where my new beds will live. There is much more on each side of this photo. Elevated around 2 feet with 8 inch sides, using existing fences for climbing trellises. I wont go over three feet wide for they will only be accessed from one side  They will be 10 foot long beds with around 20 or so inches between sections...

Wow, you're going to be busy this year. Looks like a great place for some more beds to go.

RoOsTeR wrote:Google Sketchup is a great free program.

Oh yeah, I was going to mention Sketchup, but forgot. That is a great program.

CitizenKate wrote:Wow, you're going to be busy this year.  Looks like a great place for some more beds to go.

I probably won't get at any building this year as I have a lot to do 300 miles away.
Even if I could at least get one bed going for garlic..our family loves garlic and eats lots of it.
It's so much fun though thinking and planning

RoOsTeR wrote:Google Sketchup is a great free program.

After loading Google's sketchup, I picked up a bunch of extras that I did not want so I unloaded it.
I need to find these items and get rid of them...Going to try inkscape. Will check on youtubes offerings first to see how they work and if I like them.
Not a problem, just gives me more experience on computer and I sure enjoy that.

Land! I see lots and lots of land! Oh, I forgot, most of you members have more than a postage stamp.

Hi Jimmy C.  It's good to see you on the forum.  This is the program I use:  http://gardenplanner.motherearthnews.com/gardenplanner/gardenplanner.html#

It's a paid program but they do let you try it out.  I like it because it has SFG as well are regular.  You plan your garden on a graph paper.  It has 100's plants, soft & hard-scape, etc.  

Good luck & have fun!

I have decided on Inkscape, seems to have about everything I need and truthfully, I have no idea  what I need, how to do it, etc etc. I will love the experience as I love learning new tasks

i use the spreadsheet in open office.

I didn't look for other software specifically for garden planning, should have last Spring when we were laying out our garden.  Will look at other options.

I have a copy of Adobe Photoshop from decades ago, and I also have a professional CAD program, as I used to work for the company back when these programs were new in development and I was very used to using it. I do use them for other things.  But they're on other computers now and the software I have is old...   Never can seem to get the hang of SketchUp because it works exactly opposite from the other software, drives me crazy.

So, honestly (you could say this is embarrassing), I've developed some proficiency over many years with MSPaint.  Cons:  There are very real limitations to this software.  Pros:  Very accessible for everyone.

I return to it for creative projects -- where measurements don't need the same accuracy.  I have a template of "quadrule paper" that I can bring in to keep measurements straight enough.  And I just cut and paste.   I usually keep one page open for sketching up items to scale, and another with the resulting plan. 

From last Spring... under construction.

Soose wrote: I also have a professional CAD program, as I used to work for the company back when these programs were new in development and I was very used to using it. I do use them for other things. 

So, honestly (you could say this is embarrassing), I've developed some proficiency over many years with MSPaint.  Cons:  There are very real limitations to this software.  Pros:  Very accessible for everyone.

If you're familiar with CAD, you might look at QCAD. The developer has come up with a really logical set of menus (unlike historical software). It comes in a free and low-cost flavor.

The problem with MSPaint is that you basically can't re-use components that you've created. Boxes, text, labels. You pretty much have to start from scratch. And, as you mentioned, nothing is actually dimensioned.

There are quite a few garden planners that are free.  Here is an article that describes the 10 best free planners.  Or google "garden planner" to see more.

https://gardenandhappy.com/free-garden-planners/

I used a free one when I started and it worked fine.  Can't remember the name though.  There are some (maybe not free ones) where you put your crops in the planner and they will email you when it is time to fertilize, harvest etc.

sanderson wrote:Land!  I see lots and lots of land!  Oh, I forgot, most of you members have more than a postage stamp.

'cause most of us don't live in Fresno or Tokyo.....

From the title, I thought this thread was going to be about software to help decide what to plant where and when. I guess it's a diff thread...   a friend referred me to a program a couple of months ago.  I tried it out briefly. 

It was really a scheduler.  It had a library of many diff varieties of each vegetable, and was a visual planner which I need.  It did seem to work pretty well ( using the free intro period, think it was a certain number of days you could use it).  I was able to find many of my seeds.  There were ways to customize.

But I found it visually overloading to me once I put in the 5 or 6 types of carrots I was thinking to plant.  Just an example.  I'm not a good enough gardener to take advantage yet, I think.

Soose wrote:. . . But I found it visually overloading to me once I put in the 5 or 6 types of carrots I was thinking to plant.  Just an example.  I'm not a good enough gardener to take advantage yet, I think.

I think that is a common problem with programs. They just are KISS. Sometimes Mother Nature and your local Master Gardeners planting guide by months provide enough guidance. (And the journal everyone keeps for the first couple of years, filled with mistakes and successes.

sanderson wrote:And the journal everyone keeps for the first couple of years, filled with mistakes and successes.  

The good thing about notes and journals is that we never make the same mistake again, we always make totally new mistakes!

So true!