15+ best programs for landscape design

Planning a site, distributing zones and placing objects has become easier thanks to modern technologies. All you need to do is download the program for free on the Internet. The picture is displayed in 3D or 2D. The software allows you to correctly distribute buildings on the territory and take into account the details of the layout. Zones are delimited according to the size of buildings and indentations. There are many programs for planning a site and a house in Russian or English. They differ in the complexity of handling and equipment. The variety allows you to choose the most suitable one to visualize the project and see a three-dimensional image.

An alternative to site planning programs

If you need to design a house that will not occupy the entire area of a small summer cottage, use the Interior Design 3D editor. It is suitable for novice users and is completely Russified.

It will help you draw a typical room and a house with non-standard dimensions, create several floors and arrange them separately. You can:

✓ change the finish to materials from the built-in collection;
✓ take your own textures from your PC;
✓ arrange furniture and equipment from the catalog;
✓ add columns, stairs, doors and windows.

The result can be printed or saved as a photorealistic image, and you can also export the drawing and 3D layout as a PDF, JPG, PNG, BMP file. The scheduler can be downloaded for free and installed on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP. It is not demanding on system resources and works smoothly on weak PCs and laptops.

Interior Design 3D

Computer programs

To choose the best computer software, we took into account the following criteria:

✓ availability of a user-friendly interface;
✓ built-in collection of plants, verandas, gazebos;
✓ ability to adjust light, climate, temperature, etc.;
✓ tools for hand drawing.

Here is a ranking of paid and free computer software:

Garden Planner

OS:

Windows

License:

shareware

A simple planner allows you to draw fences and paths, add a pool and pond, and arrange outbuildings. It contains a catalog of plants and garden pavilions, buildings and decking. Each element can be moved to a suitable location, adjusted in size and rotated.

Garden Planner provides an English-language interface. The software can only be downloaded from third-party resources, since the developer has stopped supporting the designer.

Main features:

✓ development of a schematic landscape plan;
✓ changing the surface covering;
✓ catalog of furniture, equipment, etc.;
✓ collecting a personal gallery of items;
✓ saving content in JPEG, PNG;
✓ compiling a list of used objects in CSV and TXT format.

If you're looking for a simple planner for dummies, download Garden Planner. With its help, anyone can schematically draw the surrounding area.

SketchUp

OS:

Windows, MacOS

License:

shareware

Suitable for drawing, modeling interiors, landscapes and architectural structures. In SketchUp, you can draw freehand, adjust lighting, add media from your library, and view your design in 3D that shows shadows.

The designer can be downloaded to your PC and installed for a 30-day trial period. Then you need to pay an annual subscription costing $299.

Main features:

✓ storage of media of other users;
✓ manual drawing of objects and houses;
✓ changing the plane and slope of the earth;
✓ library of building materials.

SketchUp is used by specialists as media content is drawn manually. The software also has a confusing interface and high cost.

VizTerra

OS:

Windows

License:

shareware

Allows you to create two-dimensional landscape drawings and convert them into three-dimensional models. Using this planner, you can manually draw the space, adjust textures and lighting.

VizTerra does not provide tools for creating pools. The application can be downloaded for a trial period on devices with Windows 8 and 10. Then you can use the software by subscription for $97 per month.

Main features:

✓ working with layers;
✓ collection with 1700+ items;
✓ changing the surface covering;
✓ adding a fence and railings;
✓ photorealistic pictures in high resolution;
✓ creation of MP4 videos with exterior presentation.

VizTerra is designed for professional editing. Beginners will find it difficult to navigate the software's confusing tools.

Our garden

OS:

Windows

License:

paid

Planner for modeling a vegetable garden, terrace, etc. In it you can manually draw an area of up to 500 square meters, place vegetation, gazebos, a garage, a pond, a fountain and other elements. You can also customize the terrain, adjust building materials and change the size of objects.

The software can be installed on devices running Windows. The license costs 4,000 rubles.

Main features:

✓ encyclopedia with information about flowers and trees;
✓ designing a layout based on a photo;
✓ editing fence and stairs;
✓ design of simple rooms with windows, doors, roof;
✓ calculation of estimates;
✓ setting lighting, month of year, time of day.

Our Garden is suitable for amateur use. It features a convenient Russian-language menu that you can quickly figure out.

FloorPlan 3D

OS:

Windows, MacOS

License:

shareware

Popular software for developing landscape plans. In it you can build cottages, gazebos and garages, add fences and paths, place a swimming pool and garden furniture, bushes and flowers. The unevenness of the ground is also adjustable.

To use, you need to download a 15-day trial version. To do this, order the product on the official website, providing personal information. You can also immediately buy a license package. Prices start at $99.

Main features:

✓ drawing up estimates;
✓ drawing space from scratch;
✓ modeling of external and internal lighting.

FloorPlan 3D will help in developing projects of any level of complexity, which is why it is popular among professional architects and designers.

Punch Home Design

OS:

Windows, MacOS

License:

paid

Cottage and landscape planning software. Provides more than 4 thousand plants, various tools for 2D and 3D rendering of space, functions for editing the parameters of each element. Punch Design also adjusts trim and creates estimates, and offers ready-made deck and patio templates.

The software can only be installed by subscription for $49.99 per year.

Main features:

✓ adding fences;
✓ sorting vegetation by climate and terrain;
✓ several visualization modes to choose from, for example, top view;
✓ import and export of DWG, DXF files.

Software for people who want a full range of landscaping and interior design options. It’s quite simple to use, so it won’t take much time to master.

X-Designer

OS:

Windows

License:

free

Application for landscaping in Russian. With its help, you can adjust the depth of the area and make hills, place a pond, and plant plants. You can also install gazebos, lanterns, benches, etc.

You cannot design items from scratch in X-Designer. In addition, the software is no longer supported by the developer, but it can be downloaded from third-party resources.

Main features:

✓ viewing in 3D mode;
✓ catalog of flowers, flower beds, etc.;
✓ imitation of the time of year and day;
✓ save files in BMP, JPG and PNG.

This is a program for amateurs who do not care about high quality graphics, but need a rough plan of the future site.

Chief Architect Home Designer Suite

OS:

Windows, MacOS

License:

shareware

A complex planner that creates and customizes the landscape of an area, adding topographical features such as hills or water. Using this application, you can “plant” flowers, add a pool, place fences, stairs and terraces, choose garden furniture or street lamps.

Chief Architect Designer Suite has a trial version that is available by application only. After a month of use, you will have to purchase a license for $99.

Main features:

✓ preparation of detailed technical plans;
✓ street decor library;
✓ visualization of 3D content in high resolution;
✓ output data as a 360 degree panorama.

This software is mostly used by professionals because it is difficult to master.

Lands Design

OS:

Windows

License:

shareware

This is a plugin used to expand the capabilities of Rhino and AutoCad editors. It can be used to design gardens and place green spaces. Lands Design allows you to search for and insert different types of plants. There are also functions for automatically drawing plans and drawing up project documentation.

The extension is available for a trial period. The cost of paid packages ranges from 795 to 1695 euros for a perpetual license.

Main features:

✓ installation of different levels of relief;
✓ more than 1800 types of vegetation in the catalog;
✓ options for planning the irrigation system;
✓ creating a layout with layers;
✓ correction of ground coverings;
✓ visualization using filters, animation and suitable light.

Used in a professional environment - architects, technicians, urban planners, gardeners, etc.

Autodesk AutoCAD

OS:

Windows, MacOS

License:

shareware

Autodesk's 3D computer-aided design software is designed for backyard landscaping and cottage construction. AutoCAD is used to produce 3D models and 2D drawings. In two-dimensional mode, you can customize texts, add dimensional styles, and link data from Microsoft Excel tables. When 3D modeling, the function of drawing content from scratch is available.

AutoCAD can be downloaded for a trial period. Then you need to pay a subscription costing 82,774 rubles per year or 10,236 per month.

Main features:

✓ management of the appearance of materials;
✓ adjusting shadows from models;
✓ creating trees, building frames from scratch;
✓ import PDF and DGN files, Navisworks, Bing Maps.

Designed for professional architects, designers, decorators, etc.

Choosing colors for landscape design

Learning landscape design means mastering new knowledge in geometry, geodesy, biology and the fine arts. Artistic skills are not all that is required. It is necessary to study the basis of the color palette, how to correctly combine tones, which range will be basic and which will be additional, and you must be able to place bright accents in the overall picture.

Think in advance about the color scheme of your site

The definition of color will depend on the chosen style, because each has its own basic tone and acceptable shades for creating it.

When choosing plants, it is worth considering them in perspective, that is, you need to take into account what color and size they will be, what they can be replaced with, if necessary, without disturbing the overall design of the entire landscape.

At this stage, it will help to study the varieties of plants, in what season it is worth planting flowers or shrubs, and in addition, you need to know all the subtleties and secrets of growing and caring for the selected crops.

Online services

If you do not want to install a site planning program on your PC, use the online service. Platforms will help you quickly design a project in a browser. However, they are dependent on network speed, require registration, and have few options for manual configuration.

SmartDraw

OS:

Windows, MacOS, Linux

License:

shareware

A web platform for planning and landscaping, in which ready-made templates are divided into different categories. You can also start work from scratch and mark the territory with schematic pictures.

To use you must register. Access to all service functions is valid for 7 days. Then you need to buy a subscription for $119.40 per year.

Main features:

✓ collection of templates;
✓ working with layers;
✓ changing the size of elements;
✓ export data to PDF, SVG, PNG, JPEG.

SmartDraw creates a well-structured two-dimensional drawing and is easy to use, making it suitable for amateur use.

Gardena myGarden

OS:

Windows, MacOS, Linux

License:

free

A website that sells gardening products and offers an online editor for exterior landscaping. In his own project, the user uses products from the store’s assortment. In Gardena myGarden you can draw the surrounding area, mark buildings, and place a pond.

Main features:

✓ templates of plots with buildings, trees, paths;
✓ placement of an irrigation system;
✓ changing the size of each part;
✓ the material can be printed or saved as PDF.

Recommended for a basic hobbyist layout, as the catalog is limited to items from a single brand. You cannot add your own objects and textures to the database.

Yardzen

OS:

Windows, MacOS, Linux

License:

paid

Web platform for ordering a project from professionals. To start modeling, you need to specify the address of the house or import photos of the place. Then set a budget, select the proposed style, configure the parameters and send a request to the service specialists.

The Yardzen resource does not allow you to draw a drawing yourself. You send an application, and then the project designers work. Their services start at $649.

Main features:

✓ selection of a wide variety of design styles;
✓ analysis of the local area based on images;
✓ selection of vegetation suitable for the climate.

The portal is suitable for people who do not want to design and arrange the space themselves.

Creation of a design concept

This stage of work is the most interesting and creative; it is here that the main design concept is formed. Namely, the style for the design is determined, the material and appropriate plants are selected. All ideas and plans are transferred to paper, the dimensions of details and plant forms are worked out and entered. It is worth considering the following:

the growth rate of a particular plant;
maximum height and width of plants;
acceptable neighborhoods among cultures.

To create a landscape design, you should first choose simpler but beautiful plants. It will be quite difficult for a novice gardener to care for and grow exotic crops. Experts recommend choosing plants such as:

juniper;
thuja, pine plant species;
hawthorn;
barberry;
viburnum;
varieties of tree peonies;
chrysanthemums;
roses of different types;
garden yucca;
primrose;
lupine.

And this is not the entire acceptable list of plants for a beginner, which will help you create an unusual, beautiful design on your site. Caring for these plants is quite simple and will allow you to see your work in all its beauty in a short time.

To start, choose plants that require minimal care.

When choosing materials, you should give preference to more natural and environmentally friendly products - wood, stones and gravel of different sizes.

It is important to carry out the work in perspective, since most plants are perennial and planning is carried out for more than one season. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances and, first of all, it is necessary to think through the color scheme of the project.

Mobile applications

Using a smartphone or tablet, you can edit the layout on the go, upload photos of the location, and draw on top of the photo.

iScape

OS:

iOS

License:

shareware

Landscape design platform for iPhone. Connects to the camera and shows on the screen how objects will look in reality. Here you can place plants from the built-in library, and then save the plan to your smartphone.

You can expand the functionality of the editor and get access to all the program's libraries by subscription for $29.99 per month.

Main features:

✓ AR design;
✓ collection of vegetation and textures.

The visualizer is a universal solution and is used by professional designers and ordinary homeowners.

Home Design 3D Outdoor/Garden

OS:

Android, iOS

License:

shareware

Lightweight mobile software for arranging an open space with a large gallery of elements. You will be able to place garden furniture, trees, swimming pools, greenhouses, fences, etc. Each item can have a custom finish. The result will be displayed in 3D and 2D modes.

Main features:

✓ more than 100 three-dimensional objects;
✓ dragging buildings on the touchscreen;
✓ regulation of terrain texture.

Suitable for amateur use as it does not allow precise editing of the layout. And the graphics here seem a little realistic.

Home Outside

OS:

iOS

License:

paid

A visualizer for iOS that offers tools for arranging your flower garden and backyard. It contains more than 700 elements, options for designing sketches, adding buildings, paths and fences.

Home Outside can be downloaded from the App Store for $2.99. The platform also has versions for Android and MacOS, but they are not available at the time of writing.

Main features:

✓ support for layers;
✓ uploading photos from your phone;
✓ linking content to the grid;
✓ resize and rotate each part;
✓ library of animated figures.

It is not used in a professional environment, as it has limited functionality and creates projects with low detail.

Secrets of beautiful design

Experienced experts recommend using some tricks and tips when creating a garden design:

Any area will look harmonious if it has enough space, and excess clutter and congestion will be perceived as difficult and uncomfortable. Therefore, to create more space, professionals use tricks such as multi-level zones. These can be small mounds with decorative steps or a certain part of the site that is given over to the lawn. It is this step that will visually expand the overall view and give an idea of the volumetric territory.
There must be a center element on the site. This could be a gazebo, an alpine slide, a fountain or a mini-pond. It is not necessary to place this “center” in a strict geometric location on the territory; the main task is to give this decorative element the role of a figure or shape that will look basic.

Anyone can create a beautiful design on their own site. It is possible to obtain the necessary knowledge for this on your own, the main thing is desire, patience and enough free time to complete the training.