Landscaping Software – Are They Really Free?

Have you heard of someone using landscaping software in landscaping his own garden? If this thing is new to you, then hop in and start learning more about this cool stuff for your Landscaping needs. Landscape design has never been so exciting than before with this software.

Landscaping Software

You maybe dreaming of landscaping software your garden but you think landscaping is too expensive that you hold in to that dream and even leave it as a wish that you think is impossible to achieve. Some other folks think of landscaping as a very expensive idea because they are thinking of hiring a professional landscape designer due to their lack of creativity and artistic talent. However, technological advancements have made a way for easy and convenient landscape design ideas that could make greater advantages to both the novice and professional outdoor designers landscaping

Here are the Landscape Software.

1. It is offered as free software. Yes, you read it right. You can get it free. It has copyrights but you can download it for free with proper instructions and permissions.

2. It has great functions. It has tons of designs which can help any beginner to think of any desired design. The 3D features allows you to modify the designs or even try your own creativity to add plants, rocks, lighting, fountain and other accessories on any preferred landscape. You are offered a lot of landscape design choices here. It also has its “aging” software which allows you to see the actual design after a few years. You can then eliminate design choices that may not fit your preferences while on this “aging” process.

3. It even allows printing. You can print out preferred designs and layout variations for contractors to bid on the project or for further personal considerations. The software even provides you a material list for your landscaping software design. This list even includes the names and numbers of the trees and plants that you need for the designs.

4. It is easily accessible. Downloading your software is easy. You can access this free software directly from Google search and select from the list. There is no opt-in stuff that you have to deal with. It keeps you free from disclosing your personal details as it lets you download the software quickly. You could even delete your download and look for your perfect fit without any hassle.

Freeware Consequences

Nothing is totally perfect. We all have our limitations or weaknesses. You have to understand that your amazing software has few limitations too.

• The free version usually comes as a demo version. Just like any other freeware, the software may not let you change garden designs, especially for the layout of the flower bed. Changing sizes, locations of the trees and plants and the colors are the only features that are usually allowed for harmony and balance. If you want to use the special advanced features in your landscape design, you can upgrade it to its full version.

• It does not offer technical support. Your free version software does not include company support about the technical features. The full support is catered by the upgraded or full version purchase.

The Right Choice

If you will weigh the consequences to its actual freeware features, you can see that this has still more advantages for your landscape project. It depends on your particular needs and preferences in deciding whether to upgrade or not. A new designer may take advantage of the free version for personal use. Experts can both go for the freeware or full version based on the demands of clients and contractors. If you want to start a landscaping career, there are many courses and resources available for you.

You can even start designing with the freeware and upgrade to its latest version once you have saved enough to get more projects for more success. The choice is all yours.…

Landscaping Software Free Design Programs

For those who just want to dabble or for those wanting to try their hand at a free option, finding a good landscaping software free package can be challenging. Many of the big-name home and landscape software providers offer a trial period, but there aren’t very many completely free packages. Below is a list of the free landscape design software programs available on the Internet.

1. Landscaping Software Free

Most landscaping professionals consider Google SketchUp to be the best free option. You can use the program free for as long as you want. They do have an upgrade option (Google SketchUp Pro) that costs $495. However, you don’t need the pro version to be able to create some pretty amazing landscape designs. The power of this free tool is unmatched by any of the other free options.

The one downside to the Google SketchUp free version is the learning curve you will face. Don’t expect to download the free version and have an amazing landscape design done in one day.

2. Better Homes and Garden Plan-a-Garden

Better Homes and Garden (BHG) has a free software tool known as Plan-a-Garden. This software tool is super easy to use but it’s in a different class (a much lower class) than Google SketchUp. If you are simply looking to design (in 2D) a small, vegetable-less garden then this is the option for you. You can create simple designs in just a few minutes.

The one thing that really annoyed me about this tool is that it doesn’t offer any vegetables. You are limited to flowers, bushes, trees, and structures.

3. BBC Virtual Garden Free Tool

A lot of people mention using a free landscape design tool provided by the BBC. Getting BBC’s garden tool to work correctly is difficult. The program has a history of crashing and BBC is no longer providing any form of customer support on the tool (it’s hard to offer customer support on a free tool). If you do get this free landscape design software to work, then supposedly it has 3D capabilities.

4. PlanGarden

This tool would be on the other end of the spectrum from Google SketchUp. PlanGarden has very few capabilities when it comes to landscape design. This software program is designed to help you design and manage your garden. If that’s all you’re looking for, then PlanGarden might be a good idea for you. PlanGarden is basically the same tool as BHG’s Plan-A-Garden software, but it comes with vegetables! Note that this tool is no longer free. They do offer a 45 day trial though.

5. The ShowOff Visualizer

The landscaping software free offered by ShowOff is one of the better free options out there. It has a feature that allows you to upload a picture of your landscape or house and then you can create your design by adding objects to the picture. Unfortunately that’s about where the usefulness of this software ends.

The software is useful, but it still acts like free software. There are a lot of bugs and annoyances. For example, it logs people out at random times and doesn’t save your work. You can’t rotate the objects you insert. There is no 3D mode. The user-interface isn’t very intuitive and it’s hard to find the objects you are looking for to insert into your design. This software doesn’t compare with the paid programs available.

Overall ShowOff is probably your second best option after Google SketchUp for landscaping software free. You can accomplish some pretty good designs in a matter of minutes. You can add trees, swimming pools, and lawn ornaments.…