How to Design a Garden Interactively

A garden plan created by a computer does not have to be difficult.

Planning a garden on the computer can save even a seasoned gardener heartache before the first shovel of soil is dug. It can also allow other gardeners to see the work beforehand and give input through social media discussion. Remember that the plan is only as good as the information provided so make sure that the measurements are exact. Also take advantage of the plant finder feature that many programs contain. This feature can be used to aid the plan as far as plant requirements and planting zones.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Paper
• Pencil
• Computer with printer
• Garden planner program of choice

Instructions

1. Measure off the area where the garden will be placed. Mark these dimensions on the paper and any other information that will be helpful, such as sun location. Make a list of the plant species that the gardener desires in the garden.

2. Survey several websites to find the one that fits the gardener's needs. Some sites are free while some charge a yearly fee for the service. Practice with designing a mock garden before final selection.

3. Following the program's directions, draw out the outline of the garden space. Add a dark perimeter line around the boundary of the garden to make the outline stand out.

4. Move plant symbols into the appropriate space indicated by the gardener's design. Check the information about each plant to make sure that the species will work in the location chosen.

5. Add any additional objects that are part of the garden plan, such as benches, or statues, to the computer layout of the garden.

6. View the plan in 3D if the program allows and adjust accordingly. Finalize the plan and save it to the computer. Print the plan when the gardener is ready to start the garden project.

Tips & Warnings

• If the gardener is not comfortable with designing his own garden, take advantage of the preplanned gardens that many programs offer.

• The plan is only as good as the information provided. Make sure that all the dimensions are accurate and that the appropriate plants are included.

• When using social media sites as a monitor for your design, always remember to take the advice with a grain of salt. Only use this information as something to consider and not necessarily something that needs to be done.

References

• BBC.com: Design Your Garden
• Gardeners.com: Kitchen Garden Planner
• Vegetable Gardening Online.com: Free Vegetabe Garden Plans, Layout, Designs, and Planning Worksheets
• Send2press.com: Plangarden's Vegetable Gardening Software Expands Web 2.0 Social Networking Features
• Microsoft.com: The Digital Gardener
• Plan 3D: Online Landscaping Tools