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Best landscape design software

Back in the day, people would collect clippings from magazines and use a sheet of paper to sketch their DIY plan for a garden or landscape. But now that we are in the digital era, there are free and paid landscape design software to help you design the perfect yard layout. Check them out now! 

1.AutoCAD

Varies by plan
AutoCAD is a computer-aided design software that allows you to design every detail with 2D and 3D and share drawings across desktop, cloud, and mobile.
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  • Han Han

    by Han Han

    I'm a drafter for an architect on landscapes. Been using the AutoCAD Architecture for this purpose. This software has been our staple for all drafting projects we have. Various command tools really come in handy. I often use the auto-command for quic More

2.SketchUp

Free download

SketchUp, formerly Google Sketchup, is free 3D modeling design software which was developed by Trimble Inc. It is also available as a web-based application named SketchUp Free and paid version SketchUp Pro. 

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  • Vibhore Khan

    by Vibhore Khan

    I availed the pro version becausemy design business is booming due to many clients. I do handrafted designs on paper first before transcribing the rou More

  • Elizabeth Obrien

    by Elizabeth Obrien

    I want to be a landscaper, so I was hunting around for some decent landscape design software. Lemme tell you, it's not this my friends. Sketchup is te More

  • by Dennis Rios

    I really liked using SketchUp. They had good videos on how to get started using the software. It's not just for landscapes either. They have a search  More

  • Wayne Chen

    by Wayne Chen

    This worked wonderful for me. It allowed me to sketch out the landscape design easily so I knew exactly what I was doing.

  • Mark Welch

    by Mark Welch

    I've been using sketchup for a few months. It's a great program, I use it a lot for drawing interior design things. It will be the first program I ope More

3.Adobe Illustrator CC

Paid: $20.99 Varies by plan

Adobe Illustrator is a vector-based graphics editor software developed by Adobe Inc. This can be used to create different designs with its drawing tools. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers.

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  • Helen Lee

    by Helen Lee

    I use this to apply full colors on the landscapes being designed by the architect. We need such materials for the brochure, and Illustrator is so much more convenient for me than Photoshop.

4.Virtual Architect Home & Landscape

Paid: $49.99

Virtual Architect Home & Landscape Platinum Suite 7.0 provides some helpful guidance as you design a new landscape for your property, and you get systematic instructions as you progress from one task to the next.

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  • Ramón Guillén

    by Ramón Guillén

    Virtual Architect is a new software that will help you design your dream landscape or yard. It has a lot of great features that can save you a lot of  More

  • Bobby Hayes

    by Bobby Hayes

    This is actually a pretty solid choice, but it comes with one major issue.. There's no trial. So if this doesn't fit your tastes, you're just out of l More

  •  Jorge Luis Núñez

    by Jorge Luis Núñez

    When I first ordered Virtual Architect Home & Landscape Platinum Suite 7.0, I had my doubts as I had tried other design software to work out m More

  • Lori Dixon

    by Lori Dixon

    I love gardening but was always overwhelmed by any major landscaping. This software has taken the stress out of that.This will walk you through creati More

5.Punch! Landscape, Deck & Patio v20

Paid: $39.99
Punch! Landscape, Deck & Patio v20 provides a complete set of tools to plan, design, and visualize your outdoor spaces. Design your landscaping with a drop in landscaping, or create your own with the extensive plant library.
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  • Jordan Hayes

    by Jordan Hayes

    Punch! Landscape, Deck & Patio is a great resource for designing landscapes and outdoor space. It is easy to use, and provided me with great o More

  • Zhang Fang

    by Zhang Fang

    I like the presets available on this software especialyl 2D and 3D navigation. Been doing lots of landscape designs for the past 10 years and Punch! h More

  • Aaryan Singhal

    by Aaryan Singhal

    Landscape, Deck & Patio is far from the best landscape design software out there. It's overpriced and the tools that are in the program are useles More

  • by Ajay Venkatesan

    Lets you customize specific materials for your design and has 3D visualization which makes designing even easier. Download straight from site so you d More

  • Michael Stephens

    by Michael Stephens

    How about seeing what your landscape can look like before you do it? Nothing like having a computer generated software to be able to show you just tha More

6.Home Designer Suite

Paid: $99
Home Designer Suite is a home and landscaping design software product that lets you see what you are creating and make it your own. You can work in 3D and prepare the perfect outdoor area to make your landscape truly outstanding.
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  • by Aaron Taylor

    I like that this app allows me to design the home and landscape. It helps me come up with ideas and see how things will look before starting a project More

  • Jonathan Bishop

    by Jonathan Bishop

    Home Designer Suite is a decent piece of technology for landscape design. I personally, find that most mobile solutions are not good enough for true l More

  • Roger Fox

    by Roger Fox

    I tried out Home Designer Suite and although value priced, it still leaves something left to be desired. There are a lot of other offerings available  More

  • Eric Watson

    by Eric Watson

    I have been doing interior design for over a decade now. This software really helps me save time and be efficient. It works great on my macbook pro!

7.Realtime Landscaping Pro

Paid: $99.95 Varies by plan
Realtime Landscaping is a professional landscaping software that enables your plans and ideas to come to life on screen. Including authentic objects real plants trees and shrubs, this software can handle the most demanding landscaping plans.
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  • Gustavo Rubio

    by Gustavo Rubio

    this is a really fun piece of software that allows you to customize your ideal yard. i like that they do not just have options for plants (and they ha More

  • Michelle Morris

    by Michelle Morris

    This program looks really neat. However I would much rather be able to try a program out before I am going to spend money on it. What if its buggy?

  • Julie Palmer

    by Julie Palmer

    This app is a great, fun tool to use to experiment with landscaping ideas. They have a huge selection of items like plants and pools to use for your i More

  • Randy Wagner

    by Randy Wagner

    Realtime Landscaping Pro has helped me tremendously with becoming a home designer. I was a beginner, looking for a cheap way to pursue my career in ho More

8.Marshalls Garden Visualiser

Varies by plan
Garden Visualiser is a visualisation software program that lets you create amazing 3D garden designs for free. Create your own bespoke step features, garden walls with pillars and garden paths, or add an image of your own home.
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  • by Louis Estrada

    This garden visualizer was such a breath of fresh air! When designing my garden I used this website and it made the process easy and painless. Its com More

  • Larry Russell

    by Larry Russell

    Although it is a software, the buy online option is making me to deal with marshalls web trading partner which is absurd. Why do I need to enter my zi More

  • by Samuel Aguilar

    Marshalls Garden Visualiser specializes in providing a preview of how your garden will look before actually having the work done. This gives home owne More

  • Lawrence Banks

    by Lawrence Banks

    This was awesome. It gave me some great ideas and being able to see how my concepts might look helped a lot.

9.Legacy iScape

Free download

Legacy iScape is a landscape design app for DIY and Pros. With this app you can easily create and share virtual designs of outdoor spaces.  Just snap a photo of your garden and then use the app to add new features to the image, like trees and other plants, water features and gravel paths.


*NO LONGER AVAILABLE*

Legacy iScape

Legacy iScape

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  • Terry Reynolds

    by Terry Reynolds

    I am not sure how I ever designed the gardens around my home before iScape. This app makes coming up with ideas on how you want to design your garden  More

  • Patrick Simpson

    by Patrick Simpson

    I used this app to help my mother-in-law with her landscape. She just had her cottage built and was very particular about the landscape. I downloaded  More

  • by Aaron Bowman

    Need an app to help you plan your yard? iScape is here. No need for a large computer or monitor when you can download iScape to your iPad or iPhone. W More

  • Keith Black

    by Keith Black

    This is a good app for mobile platforms. However, the app could be more affordable. It would also be nice if there was a desktop companion program.

10.Garden Plan Pro

Paid: $7.99
Garden Plan Pro is a tool for laying out your growing areas, planning your planting and preparing for the future. You can make use of the apps built-in plant selection or create your own, with all the relevant details.
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  • Eugene Allen

    by Eugene Allen

    Last year, my garden was a mess. I think I spilled my tomato seeds or something, because I had these neat little rows mapped out mentally, but it ende More

  • Harry Young

    by Harry Young

    it is little tough for the end user and lack in some information

  • Anthony Riley

    by Anthony Riley

    This is some great software that really allows you to further your design in your yard or landscape. The Garden Plan Pro has lots of amazing features  More

  • Amit Pawar

    by Amit Pawar

    I just moved into a new house and have been ready to start landscaping but I dont know where to begin! This app is so helpful I am basically a profess More

11.NCH Dreamplan Home Design

Paid: $29.99 Varies by plan

DreamPlan Home Design Software is Home and Landscape Planning and Design Software which helps users to design and create floor plans, rooms, houses, gardens, furnishings, color themes, and other home design elements.

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  • Wu Pasang null

    by Wu Pasang null

    DreamPlan is a great software for planing landscaping and outdoor design projects. You can download additional libraries of content and make things like gardens, flowerbeds, decks, fences, and all of that.

12.PRO Landscape

Free download
PRO Landscape Companion is a Landscape and Garden Design Tablet App for iPad and Android Tablets. You can create landscape designs instantly using your tablet app. Simply snap a picture of a property, then drag and drop your design ideas for an immediate positive impression.
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  • Douglas Watkins

    by Douglas Watkins

    This software is the best that I have found for doing landscape work with. It's really easy to use and will everything that I need it do. It's very co More

  • Alice Ray

    by Alice Ray

    This software is not good because for one, its pricey if you want the full version. Two, you have to download another app on your desktop for it to wo More

  • Harry Perkins

    by Harry Perkins

    This is for everyone like me who looks at their backyard and wonders where to begin. Try different looks out and move things around be fore you start  More

  • Tyler Murray

    by Tyler Murray

    I have a seriously brown thumb. I can never picture what my final landscaping project will look like. I really need something like this to help me see More

13.PRO Landscape Home

Free download
PRO Landscape Home gives homeowners the tools they need to redesign their landscapes. Users start with a photo of their home or garden and then add plants, materials and features. PRO Landscape also offers design apps for professional landscapers.
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  • Christina Fields

    by Christina Fields

    This is an awesome tool to get an idea of some landscaping before you go ahead and do it. Landscaping is a big job so this makes life so much easier b More

  • Roy Welch

    by Roy Welch

    Are you looking for the best landscape design software? Look no further because PRO Landscape Home is your solution found on Google Play.

  • by Benjamin Little

    PRO Landscape Home is a powerful app that uses your mobile devices camera to overlay composites of landscaping features to give you an idea of what yo More

  • Gary Weaver

    by Gary Weaver

    PRO landscape home is perfect for anyone looking to do work with landscape. Incredibly easy to use.

WHAT’S THE MEANING?

Landscaping is a field of art that combines the elements of design--such as color, line, form, texture, and scale--and science to develop a functional and aesthetically pleasing extension of indoor living to the outdoors as defined by Dewayne Ingram. Another concept to consider is garden design—it is a branch of landscape design that deals with private spaces and private goods. Consequently, landscape architecture is a profession, and the term was coined by Gilbert Laing Meason.

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that Australia is considered to be the landscape design capital in the world? Statistics reveal that among all the countries, it has the most number of landscape architects with an estimate of 3, 500 active and engaged landscape architects according to the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA). Interestingly, did you also know that Bliss, a landscape photography taken by Charles O’Rear in 1996 is the most viewed landscape in the world? You might not be familiar with the name but surely you have seen the default computer wallpaper of Microsoft Windows XP operating system—yes, that wallpaper is the Bliss! It is believed to have seen by at least 1 billion people based on the number of Windows XP copies that were sold worldwide. According to an article recently posted on Forbes, landscape design trends this year include a focus on bringing indoors out as many of the clients want to bring and extend the comfortable feels of home outdoors.

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