Free Landscaping Software:  Designing on a Budget

If you are like anyone who is landscaping on a budget, you may not want to spend a lot of money on three-dimensional computer software for designing your exterior design. Some companies offer free landscaping software to help you choose the plants as well as their colors and sizes to get the most out of your outdoor living space. Most include different types of plants, including annuals and perennials and allow the user to alter the size of the pictures, which will help give a more realistic view of how the finished product will really look. 

While this type of software is usually very beneficial, one of the drawbacks of free landscaping software is it may not allow the user to change the style of the house or the layout of the flowerbeds or other gardens. With many of them there is just one layout choice.  This may help you determine how much you need in the way of plants, but will not give an accurate depiction of what your home will look like afterward. 

Companies that offer free landscaping software usually sell seeds and plants and the software will market these items.  However, with some basic landscaping software costing close to $100, this can be a cheap trade off to the benefits of the software. The idea is to show you how their products will work, but you can always buy locally from any location you would like. 

Features of Free Landscaping Software May be Limited 

When you purchase landscaping software it will usually include options for adding landscaping stones or lumber while most free landscaping software lack this option. Depending on the company from which you receive your free software many options may be included or eliminated. Many times do-it-yourself landscape companies will offer free landscaping software for potential customers that contain more features than the software given away by seed companies, so you will want to consider your free options when possible. 

There are many great things about free landscaping software but one of the truly convenient things about free landscaping software offers made online is that they do not require registration, are quick to download and, once you find out they really will not offer any help, can easily be deleted from your system.  When it’s free you can’t really complain! 

Luckily, free landscaping software is usually very easy to use. Seldom will there be any help available except what is included with the software, but they can provide some information about choosing plants for individual climates. As with just about anything given away for free, there are going to be limitations, but the free software can help to give you an idea of what you can do with your yard.