Learning to use GardenCAD software

GardenCAD™ is easy-to-use software designed for ease of use by garden and horticulture professionals. It allows for the creation of plans which are accurate, full size vector CAD models similar to those produced by AutoCAD and IntelliCAD - two alternative software programs in common use by architects and engineers.

In contrast to AutoCAD and IntelliCAD which are generic CAD tools, GardenCAD is customized for garden design use and comes complete with its own in-built tools for laying out the boundaries of a site, indicating the position of buildings and a wide range of pre-drawn symbols which you simply drag into position to indicate planting. These symbols can be scaled and rotated at will. When the site has been laid out, dimensions can be taken directly from the design (the model) and applied to entities (objects) such as paths, paved areas etc. Finally, GardenCAD allows the storage of much non graphic information such as botanical name, common name, plant name, size, code etc. within the drawing.

This course

This course will teach you how to use GardenCAD. At the end of the course you will be able to develop plans of the type shown in the figures below:

Elevation view of a design for a community garden, courtesy of Jo Connolly.

2D Plan produced with GardenCAD courtesy of Barossa Valley Garden Design

How to learn to use GardenCAD

Select the modules below, preferably in the order shown. After you have completed a module, click the back button in your browser to return and select the next module. [You may need to allow Active X controls to run (just click the yellow bar at the top of the screen and Allow Blocked Content)].

When returning to this menu of modules, you may have to click the back button twice.

Module Title

Description

Introduction

About GardenCAD. Some simple designs showing the accurate placement of lines using the software. Using plant symbols from the GardenCAD library. Placing raster images (digital photos) into GardenCAD designs to help convey design ideas. Re-arranging the layer stacking order to improve design layout. Previewing and printing designs on different size presentation sheets.

Sample Designs

Showcasing some sample plans - GardenCAD designs produced by some early users of the program and incorporated into the program so that you can practice on real jobs before building your own.

The GardenCAD interface

Examining the way in which GardenCAD works. The drawing editor, drop down menus, the coordinate system used by GardenCAD. Drawing lines of defined length using Cartesian coordinates. Using Polar coordinates.

Tutorial -learning GardenCAD by example

Learn GardenCAD by example. We create a complete garden design from scratch. It is a real job - we lay out a design for the back garden of a house in Canberra, Australian Capitol Territory.

Using drafting aids

Setting and using a user defined grid, applying polar tracking and adjusting entity snap settings in GardenCAD drawings.

The draw commands

A quick look at many of GardenCAD's draw commands. Using polar tracking. The LINE, ARC, CIRCLE, POLYLINE, POINT, ELLIPSE, POLYGON, MULTI LINES, TEXT, RECTANGLE, HATCH, insert BLOCK, insert RASTER.

Using External References

Attaching files (drawings) as a back drop for garden plans.

Editing commands

Editing in GardenCAD - using the Move, Copy, Explode, Mirror commands.

Using plant symbols

Planting symbols have a major influence over the look and a feel to your designs. Here we examine the in-built plant symbols available in GardenCAD. In a later module, we show how to create symbols of your own. Each symbol has been carefully built using layers. We show how from one drawing, several different drawings can be generated, simply by turning layers on or off.

Using layers

From one drawing (model) many drawings can be generated, one for the client, one for the construction team, one for council submission etc.

Printing GardenCAD drawings

An overview of printing a GardenCAD design. Simple printing from model space, choosing a suitable drawing sheet, installing a PDF writer, printing to fit. Preparing pages for printing from paper space. Creating several paper space pages. Preparing a page for printing at a defined scale e.g. a 1-1000 plot on an Iso size A1 sheet.

Printing to PDF files

Almost every computer in use has a copy on it of what is called Adobe Acrobat Reader®. This is not surprising, because it is a most useful tool and Adobe Systems provide the it free of charge. If you print your drawings to a PDF file, then any client or local print copy shop can view and print your drawings. In this module we explain the use of Acrobat and PDF writers which are used to create PDF files which Acrobat reads.

Case Study 1

Using GardenCAD to create a design for a courtyard home.

Case Study 2

Using GardenCAD to create a design for a school teaching garden.

Case Study 3

Using GardenCAD to create a design a public space.

Case Study 4

Using GardenCAD to create a design for some intricate paving.

Gallery of student drawings

Survey some drawings created using GardenCAD.

Printing GardenCAD drawings

Installing a PDF writer, printing a drawing to a plotter, printing a drawing (GardenCAD file) to a PDF writer, , Taking a PDF file to a copy centre.

Download Sample Files

Download GardenCAD sample files.

Installing GardenCAD

How to download and install GardenCAD. Configuring GardenCAD in your computer.