Things You'll Need:
- Printer
-
Step 1
Look for landscape designer software that fulfills your project needs. At the very least, your landscape software should be easy to use with an easy installation and setup, in addition to offering plenty of tutorials in its operation.
-
Step 2
Shop for landscape designer software that includes a large encyclopedia of plant information. When you are designing your yard, you will need to have easy access to names of plants, as well as what they look like in various stages of growth.
-
Step 3
Select software that also includes a growth zone mapping system that will tell you which plants grow best based on your geographic location.
-
Step 4
Find landscape designer software that includes a large library of objects that may be included in your landscaping plans. In addition to pictures of plants, you may also need sidewalks or even a simulation of your home's elevation as a backdrop to your design.
-
Step 5
Make your garden-shopping trip simpler by selecting software that allows you to print shopping lists based on your designs. If you can format the list to fit the layout of your local garden store by sorting by plant, equipment and other items, you'll spend less time in the shop and more time outside, planting your garden.
-
Step 6
Keep an eye out for pleasing details such as real photodynamic imaging. This kind of software will provide you with a more realistic image of what your finished design will look like. Some software may even be able to project future growth of your landscape design through this imaging process.
-
Step 7
See how easy it is to find the plant information you are looking for in your landscape designer software. Ideally, you should be able to search for plants by their name, as well as by other categories such as zone of hardiness or water requirements.
