I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen are poor
for them all!

Alan

"Alan" wrote in message
...
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen are
poor
for them all!

Alan


Similar previous posts on this ng agree. Don't spend your money on garden
software.
Walk round your local area, see what plants seem to be grown successfully,
decide which you like best, and try them. Experiment with other plants that
you think you might like.
Everything else is up to you. Do you like neatly ordered plants in borders,
or do you prefer a random mixture of colours and sizes ?
Do not plant trees too near the house - apart from possible root damage to
the house, the shade can limit the types of plant that will thrive in
the vicinity.
Do you want a large lawn for kids to play on, or a small lawn with maximum
growing area for flowers, fruit & vegetables ?
Do you want to follow the trendy TV designers with (ghastly) decking, or do
you want your garden to look original ?
If you have time, growing annuals & perennials from seed is usually mich
cheaper than buying plants from garden centres, and you generally have a
much wider choice of varieties.

Bevan

"Alan" wrote in message
...
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden
Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen
are poor
for them all!
Alan

The general group consensus it that you are far better of with :
Pencil
Paper
Stack of books from the library

The URG FAQ has mo http://www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/faqsoftw.htm

Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Alan" wrote in message
...
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden
Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen
are poor
for them all!
Alan

The general group consensus it that you are far better of with :
Pencil
Paper

Use those A4 quadrille ruled pads available from all the stationers. They
help you to draw more or less to scale.

Stack of books from the library

The URG FAQ has mo http://www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/faqsoftw.htm

Franz

"Franz Heymann" wrote
"JennyC"
"Alan" wrote
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a
Garden
Design Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews
I've seen
are poor for them all!
Alan

The general group consensus it that you are far better of with :
Pencil
Paper

Use those A4 quadrille ruled pads available from all the stationers.
They
help you to draw more or less to scale.

Stack of books from the library

The URG FAQ has mo
http://www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/faqsoftw.htm

Franz

I made a drawing on paper and then used thin tracing paper over the
top to plan various designs............
Jenny

"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Franz Heymann" wrote
"JennyC"
"Alan" wrote
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a
Garden
Design Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews
I've seen
are poor for them all!
Alan

The general group consensus it that you are far better of with :
Pencil
Paper

Use those A4 quadrille ruled pads available from all the stationers.
They
help you to draw more or less to scale.

Stack of books from the library

The URG FAQ has mo
http://www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/faqsoftw.htm

Franz

I made a drawing on paper and then used thin tracing paper over the
top to plan various designs............

An excellent procedure.
However, since you have a computer, why don't you use a simple drawing prog
to help you? Erasing and copying is a doddle. All the components of my
garden are on my computer, and I simply edit the drawings as the population
changes. It also makes it unnecessary to stick gaily coloured (or other)
labels into the beds for the birds to disturb. ( At least thst is my line
in theory).

Franz

Franz Heymann wrote:
I made a drawing on paper and then used thin tracing paper over the
top to plan various designs............

An excellent procedure.
However, since you have a computer, why don't you use a simple
drawing prog to help you? Erasing and copying is a doddle. All the
components of my garden are on my computer, and I simply edit the
drawings as the population changes. It also makes it unnecessary to
stick gaily coloured (or other) labels into the beds for the birds to
disturb. ( At least thst is my line in theory).


Photocopy loads fo A4 size plans and try out loads of different styles -
force yourself to sketch some you know you will not like (eg strictly
formal) it will help you think about the spaces available and option on how
to use them

pk

"Franz Heymann" wrote
"JennyC" wrote
"Franz Heymann" wrote
"JennyC"
"Alan" wrote
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a
Garden Design Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The
reviews
I've seen are poor for them all!
Alan

I made a drawing on paper and then used thin tracing paper over the
top to plan various designs............

An excellent procedure.
However, since you have a computer, why don't you use a simple
drawing prog
to help you? Erasing and copying is a doddle. All the components
of my
garden are on my computer, and I simply edit the drawings as the
population
changes. It also makes it unnecessary to stick gaily coloured (or
other)
labels into the beds for the birds to disturb. ( At least thst is
my line
in theory).
Franz

Ummmmm - I still prefer the paper and pencil method. Probably do
enough computer stuff at work :~)

I have a notebook with photo's of all the bits of the of the garden
(its not large) and in there I make notes like "move from bed III to
bed VI in autumn", "replace the mahonia with a ......" etc

I also keep all my plant labels, seed packets etc stuck in another
notebook with similar notations. 'Died 2001', 'good plant, sow again
next year' etc

Jenny :~))

Thanks for the tips - I'll probably use graph paper and then the Computer -
I've got plenty of time but don't know the exact plot dimensions just yet
:-)

Alan McNeill
"JennyC" wrote in message
...

"Alan" wrote in message
...
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden
Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen
are poor
for them all!
Alan

The general group consensus it that you are far better of with :
Pencil
Paper
Stack of books from the library

The URG FAQ has mo http://www.tmac.clara.co.uk/urgring/faqsoftw.htm

Jenny

In article ,
Alan wrote:
Thanks for the tips - I'll probably use graph paper and then the Computer -
I've got plenty of time but don't know the exact plot dimensions just yet
:-)

Ah. Good point. That list should have included:

Tape measure (3m+, preferably 5m)


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I can't comment on garden design software as I've never used it. My garden
has evolved with generous helpings of imagination.
Before you use either software or paper and pencil, you will need to decide
what you want in the garden; it's important to include practical things like
washing lines and dustbin shelter. It is essential to exclude fashion.
Don't put in everything you've ever seen in a make-over show - you won't end
up with a garden!
Be honest with yourself: how much time can you spend in it? ..
how much money can you spend on it?!
Remember that you don't have to do it all at once.
If you live in the south-east, you could do a lot worse than visit RHS
Wisley Gardens in the Woking area. They have a large area devoted to
different types of model garden, aimed at helping visitors plan their
garden. Otherwise, visit as many local gardens as you can. You won't like
them all, but try to analyse why you do - or don't - like something: it's a
great clarifier and will help to define your plan.
Spider
Alan wrote in message
...
I am moving to a new build property. Can anyone recommend a Garden Design
Programme for the PC so I can plan my garden. The reviews I've seen are
poor
for them all!

Alan

"Spider" wrote in
I can't comment on garden design software as I've never used it.

Lots of design links on my garden pages:
http://members.rott.chello.nl/ldejag...ndex.plants.ht
m

Jenny

Spider wrote:
If you live in the south-east, you could do a lot worse than visit RHS
Wisley Gardens in the Woking area. They have a large area devoted to
different types of model garden, aimed at helping visitors plan their
garden.

Arrgh! Are the Wisley demonstration gardens as bad as they uused to be? The
Rowlawn one was a catalogue of what NOT to do:
single entry point to lawn with no "landing"
umpteen different vertical structures of different style
almost adjacent pergola etc posts of different design
muddled paving mix
etc etc etc

The Robin williams one was well designed and top notch construction.

pk