<p>When I watch the shows on HGTV, the designers now get out their tablets and move images around and are able to show the homeowner what their new kitchen or lawn will look like. Can anyone recommend good, easy to use landscape design software? We want to put a deck and some landscaping where the trampoline lived for years and I would love to be able to visualize a design.</p>
<p>What about Google SketchUp: [SketchUp</a> | 3D for Everyone](<a href=“http://www.sketchup.com/?]SketchUp”>http://www.sketchup.com/?)</p>
<p>I have never used it, but a lot of people use it to plan out and design indoor enclosures for their guinea pigs, and the sketches look great!</p>
<p>Looks like cool software, but I was hoping for something under $75. At $560, I could probably hire someone to draw the plans for me.</p>
<p>Are you going to pay for it? Some software also has a learning curve.</p>
<p>I am using Sweet Home 3D. Its free, but the stock images are not very real and I did not invest a lot of time learning it and doing it.</p>
<p>I was using it not to impress any one, just to get by with the building permits.</p>
<p>This is the line of work I am in, I work for a landscape architect (and urban designer) - Google SketchUp is indeed the software of choice (and what the guys on HGTV are using). It is expensive, but if I am not mistaken there are plenty of free versions to download online. The learning curve is more like a learning scoliosis if you ask me. I can’t get the hang of it.</p>
<p>I researched this several years ago, if Sketch up is a pain, other CAD programs are worse.
Id hire a landscape architect to assist you.</p>
<p>But first I would make a list of plants you like, how much time/$ you want to spend maintaining them, how you see yourself using your deck ( two seasons? Yr round?)
If you have other concerns ( do bunnies or deer run rampant?) do you have pets, grandchildren?
I havent used this, but it looks like a good program.
[Landscape</a> Design for Mac v17 | Punch Software | Official Site](<a href=“http://www.punchsoftware.com/p-56-landscape-design-for-mac-v17.aspx?gclid=CMLu6tLhn7oCFc41QgodGEMAnA]Landscape”>http://www.punchsoftware.com/p-56-landscape-design-for-mac-v17.aspx?gclid=CMLu6tLhn7oCFc41QgodGEMAnA)</p>
<p>I have a student version of this.
[Vectorworks</a> Landmark | Vectorworks](<a href=“http://www.vectorworks.net/landmark/]Vectorworks”>Landscape Design - BIM Software| Vectorworks Landmark)</p>
<p>You can do a lot by blowing up a photo of your yard and using silhouettes of where you envision the different areas. Once you establish the sightlines and how you will use the space, you can go further into the materials.
Dream big, you can always scale back & break it into stages.</p>
<p>( you may be able to go into your county property tax website & get a photo of your lot from above)</p>
<p>Thanks. I am really most concerned about the placement and materials of the deck.</p>
<p>I think if you go to “Download Now” on the SketchUp webiste and then select “personal use” it lets you download a free version - I know the people who do the guinea pig designs all use free versions. I don’t know what the limitations of a free version are, but it may be worth a shot.</p>
<p>Check online or [click</a> on this](<a href=“http://oceansrg1.■■■■■■■■■■/]click”>http://oceansrg1.■■■■■■■■■■/) for free landscape design programs or you can also use some virtual program where you can develop design easily.</p>