GardenCAD ~ CAD software for landscapers and garden designers

Click the link below for a short movie demonstrating GardenCAD's capabilities: http://www.gardencad.net/movies/FirstLookAtGardenCAD.wmv.

Click 'read more' below; or for a longer movie showing GardenCAD in action on a real job, click the image.

About GardenCAD

GardenCAD is a professional, vector-based, CAD software tool enabling the rapid development of CAD plans with much of the 'look and feel' of hand drawn designs. Unlike AutoCAD and IntelliCAD, (the tools most commonly used by landscape designers), most steps in creating a CAD plan can be accomplished simply by simple clicks of the left or right mouse button. There is little or no need to learn complex instructions to build drawings.

Some GardenCAD users 

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GardenCAD models

GardenCAD allows the creation of accurate models which accurately reflect what will be built when a design is implemented. You create a full size design for the site and because it is full size, accurate dimensions and quantities can be taken from the model. The figure below shows a typical small scale plan. Larger plans are possible.

Planting symbols

GardenCAD comes complete with a wide range of pre-drawn symbols which can be plotted in full colour. Designs are created simply by dragging these symbols into position, and then moving, scaling and rotating them at will.

Drafting aids

Not only are there many planting symbols, but the software also contains additional general symbols and tools to help lay out site boundaries, locate buildings, take dimensions directly from the design (the model), set up design grids, apply hatching to entities (objects) such as paths, paved areas etc. etc.

Text can be added using both Windows and CAD fonts. Many users configure GardenCAD to use a custom font to give their drawings 'personality', moving well away from stilted CAD drawings.

Plant schedules

GardenCAD also allows the storage of much non-graphic information with its symbols. We store botanical name, common name, plant name, size, code as hidden attributes. This information can be used to generate plant schedules.

Printing plans

Your plans can be printed to any size sheet of paper in full colour and can be printed to the printer attached to your computer or in PDF form for emailing to your clients. Alternatively, designs can be sent to copy centres for professional printing and laminating on larger sheets.

We have consulted with many professional designers during the development of GardenCAD. The software works in a visual and intuitive way, mimicking the classical approach to drawing.

Downloading a copy of GardenCAD

If after playing the demonstration movies, you would like to sample the program, please click the link on the  page below or return to the home page. Please note that the demonstration software is fully functional and allows you to try out all the GardenCAD features, but does not allow you to save your work.

Learn to use GardenCAD

When you have installed the trial software, please visit http://www.gardencad.net/UsingGardenCAD/contents.htm

and take a small introduction to the use of gardenCAD. This introduction comes from our extensive training course on the use of GardenCAD which can be found at http://www.landscapetutor.net

GardenCAD is not sold as a commercial product. The demonstration version available for download here can be used to draw and print designs although a small part of its functionality has been restricted - [There for example, no saveas function].

The 'Professional' version of GardenCAD

When you enrol in our course 'Using GardenCAD, software for landscape and garden designers' which is available at our companion web site, http://www.landscapetutor.net, we will, on receipt of your course fee, post a 'full' professional copy of the software (on a USB drive) to you. We hope that by the time you reach the point of wanting a 'full' copy of GardenCAD, you would have thoroughly tested the program, produced some plans and derived great benefit from using it and our trial learning materials which you can access on this site. Please note that only one module is available here. Our 'proper' course contains >20 modules which will provide comprehensive training in the use of the software.

We have adopted this rather low key approach to software development as, rather than developing commercial software with its attendant costs, we can be assured that all registered GardenCAD users have had access to a comprehensive training program and know how to use the software. Our attitude is 'try before you buy'. We are not selling the software; we sell CAD training!

Remmeber, you can download GardenCAD by clicking on the link below: http://www.gardencad.net/downloads/GCAD_Demo.Exe

(Create an account and log on for free access to more support materials - sample files, drawing sheets, logos etc.)

Please note that this web site provides the only avenue for GardenCAD support. If you have further queries or comments, please send an email to: info@gardencad.net.