How to Draw a Landscape Plan on the Computer

About homeowners are on the hunt for the "all-time app" to use to pattern their garden, instead of paw-drawing their own programme.

The trouble is… you don't know what you don't know.

The truth is… apps are Not the answer.

I know, I know. You're not Picasso. You're embarrassed past your own stick figures. You can't visualize a garden out of a blank folio.

But luckily, yous've got me to guide you.

It'south time to ditch the "tin't practise" attitude and useless apps. They're holding you lot back from getting your dream garden.

By the stop of this post, y'all'll be able to draw your own killer garden plan that's unique to YOUR garden and YOUR mode.

Let'south get started!

Watch this video to learn how to draw a garden program (or keep reading for the step-by-step instructions).

1- Get To Know Your Infinite

Earlier nosotros hit the drawing board, we need to striking the garden! A garden plan drawing without a garden to put information technology in is… a drawing.

So, first, measure the surface area where your garden bed will be.

Make a notation of:

• The dimensions of your garden bed (length and depth).
  • What shape is your garden bed?
  • Is it symmetrical or asymmetrical?
• Annihilation you shouldn't block with plants (like windows, doorways, utility admission).
  • Measure the dimensions of each object.
  • Measure how high higher up your garden bed they are.

Once you have these details, you'll be able to see potential trouble areas earlier you lot even start drawing.

Sometimes, if in that location'south a low window or a utility area to deal with, it forces yous to create an asymmetrical blueprint. It's better to know these things earlier you get started. They're more difficult to correct after the fact.

Here are measurements of a raised garden bed in both plan view (elevation left) and elevation view (lesser correct). If I were to only run into the program view drawing, I wouldn't have noticed that the windows are but 24″ from the soil level. Now that I know this, I tin can design in a way that won't obstruct views from the window. Illustrations by Pretty Purple Door.

I know this measuring footstep feels kind of boring. Merely it's absolutely essential to create an accurate garden plan. Yous volition never run into a professional designer skip this footstep… no matter how dull information technology may feel.

Just remember that if the design you create on paper doesn't fit, blocks views or obstructs utilities, it fails.

"If your design works on paper it will work in real life."

-Amy Fedele, PrettyPurpleDoor

Once yous have your measurements, it will be very easy for you to plot out the garden infinite.

Bonus Tip: While you're measuring, snap some photos of the garden bed. Make sure you take pictures from different angles. And, definitely have 1 from straight on (standing correct in front of your garden bed expanse). More than on this in the next section.

2- Selection a View

Now that you have your measurements, you lot'll need to cull a view to draw from. There are a few dissimilar views to choose from. The key hither is to choose the view that will brand it easiest for you to visualize your garden infinite.

Garden plans can be drawn from to a higher place (plan view), from directly in front (elevation view, or i betoken perspective) and in 3D (2 point perspective view). Illustrations by PrettyPurpleDoor.

• Is it easier to visualize your garden from above?
  This is called plan view. In plan view, you'll view garden plants as a series of circles and other shapes. This is a view I typically employ after in the procedure, when I'm choosing plants.
• Is information technology easier to visualize your garden from directly in front of it?
  This is called height view. This is a flat, ii-dimensional (2D) view sometimes referred to every bit 1-point perspective. Information technology allows you to see what your garden would wait like while continuing right in front of it.
• Is it easier to visualize your garden with depth in the space?
  This is called perspective view. This is the almost detailed view y'all tin can use equally it's a 3-dimensional (3D) view. This is sometimes referred to equally 2-bespeak perspective. Cartoon what your garden volition "actually" look like in 3D can sometimes be very confusing, especially if you're a beginner.

For the purposes of this postal service, nosotros're going to apply elevation view for our garden plan drawings.

A 2d elevation drawing gives you the best of both worlds.

You're able to visualize what the garden volition "actually" wait like, without the added complexity of drawing in iii dimensions.

3- Use the Right Tools

Before nosotros get to drawing, permit's make sure that y'all have the right tools available to you.

Ditch the Apps

Get-go, ditch the idea that an app or a cartoon program is going to help you lot to visualize your garden program. Information technology's way easier to exercise this by hand, peculiarly if all yous demand is a elementary drawing.

Here are some reasons that I mostly don't recommend using landscape design apps.

• Apps are very limited, particularly free versions. Yous'll find yourself trying to pattern a space simply won't have the right found shapes or sizes to you.
• Apps can requite you a false sense of reality. When you lot're using an app, it's easy to squish and squeeze to make your plants fit together. This isn't what happens in real life. So, while you tin can squish an 8 foot rounded shrub into a four foot pyramidal shaped shrub in an app, this won't translate to reality.
• Apps are a time suck. As if drawing a garden plan isn't challenging enough, you're also adding the extra complexity of having to learn a new estimator program. This can be a full time suck. Hours can become by and you'll still be trying to observe the "perfect plants" to place in your landscape. Which leads me to my side by side signal…
• The plants won't be suited for your conditions. Especially when using a free version, y'all'll have a very limited pick of plants. And, depending on where you live, the plants you're choosing may not fifty-fifty grow in your geographical area. To superlative it off, they may be suited for weather that you don't have.
• Apps only prove a moment in time. Because of the nature of drawing a garden plan, whatsoever app that you use will only prove your garden at one point in fourth dimension. And so, all of your shrubs volition look like they are flowering in the photo. But, what do these plants look like in spring, summertime, fall and winter? If y'all are choosing plants that blossom in unlike seasons (which you should be), y'all're going to get a false sense of what your garden will actually await like from any pattern in an app.

Now that you know why you lot shouldn't use an app, let'due south talk about what you should be using instead.

Tracing Newspaper Over a Photo

Tracing paper over a photograph is my preferred method for brainstorming garden bed layout ideas.

Using tracing paper over an bodily photo of your infinite is a groovy way to become started drawing a killer garden program. When drawing in pinnacle view, you'll want to choose the photo you took in footstep 1 that's a direct on view of your garden bed. This view volition brand information technology easiest to describe your plan.

So, print out the photograph you snapped earlier. Then, use tracing paper over the photo to describe out different garden plans. I love using tracing newspaper considering it gives you the liberty to explore many unlike ideas quickly.

Here are some tracing paper options you can try:

• Strathmore Tracing paper pad 50-count (Buy on Amazon). This is a overnice, convenient manner to purchase your tracing paper. Information technology comes in a pad with sheets you can tear out.
• Canson Tracing newspaper scroll 12"x50yds (Buy on Amazon). My instructors have always encouraged me to purchase rolls of tracing paper that tin can be torn off chop-chop. Sometimes, using a pad tin can brand you more conservative when using the tracing paper and a curlicue of newspaper can be more freeing for the creative process.

Draw out your shapes on the tracing paper over your photograph. Then grab another piece of paper and endeavor over again. I've always establish that this iterative process works all-time for coming up with new ideas. Sometimes, my best drawings are 5 or fifty-fifty 10 versions in. So, always go along drawing and trying to think of new ideas.

Bonus Tip: If you're having trouble seeing your photo through the tracing paper, turning the photo into a "drawing" or line drawing using a telephone app tin help. Or, print out your photo and darken the major lines of your photo with a sharpie and so they are easier to meet through the trace paper.

Tracing Newspaper Over Graph Paper

If you don't accept a photo, using tracing paper over a garden bed plotted on graph paper is some other way to sketch ideas.

If you lot don't want to or can't work from an actual photograph, you tin also describe out your infinite on graph paper using the measurements you took in pace 1. I like to apply one block on the graph paper for 1 foot of garden space. Or, any ratio works best for yous.

Once you're finished with your base sketch, it'south a good thought to "ink in" your pencil lines with a pen. It will aid you to run into the drawing more conspicuously through the tracing paper. It can besides make your drawing feel more official.

Make certain you don't draw on this "finalized" copy from now on. Brand photocopy of your official base of operations plan and draw your garden plan ideas directly onto the copies. Or, put tracing paper over the finalized base plan to iterate your ideas apace.

Plant Form Cutouts

If you are totally non into drawing your garden plan by manus, don't worry, I have another solution for you. Take hold of my gratuitous printable plant form guide and you can use my drawings.

Just impress out a photograph of your garden bed, and then cutting out the plant form shapes and move them around on the page. It's a actually fun way to experiment with different garden bed layouts.

Colored Pencils or Markers

Use colored pencils or markers to color in your drawing. I beloved the alcohol markers by Prismacolor. Illustration by Pretty Majestic Door.

Lastly, yous'll want to have some colored pencils or markers available so you tin can add colour to your drawing. Adding color to your drawings tin really aid you lot to visualize the space.

Many landscape designers use booze markers by Prismacolor or Copic to color in their drawings. Some designers even use watercolor paints to color in their drawings.

Merely, you don't demand to get that fancy. A uncomplicated set of colored pencils, markers or even crayons will be fine. I'd recommend using what you have on hand. But, if you lot're looking to buy a new set or pencils or markers, here are some I'd recommend.

• Prismacolor colored pencils, 36-count (Buy on Amazon)
• Windsor & Newton promarkers, 12-count (Buy on Amazon). This is a nice unproblematic ready with many of the colors you'll need for cartoon landscapes.
• Prismacolor markers, 24-count (Purchase on Amazon). You can also buy these markers individually online or in a hobby shop. Sometimes this tin can be a more cost-effective selection to become the colors you really need for garden plants.
• MeiLiang Watercolor paint set, 36-count (Buy on Amazon). I as well have this watercolor prepare and I really like how vibrant the colors are.

4- Draw Unproblematic Shapes & Forms

We are finally at the drawing footstep! I hope you lot're every bit excited equally I am to get started! The easiest way I've learned to depict plants is to keep it uncomplicated.

All plants can be reduced to a simple course, such as mounding, rounded, vase-shaped, horizontal, spikey, weeping, oval, pyramidal and more. Illustration by PrettyPurpleDoor.

Every plant has a basic grade or shape. Some common shapes and forms are:

• Mounding
• Rounded
• Vase-Shaped
• Horizontal or Spreading
• Spikey
• Weeping
• Oval
• Pyramidal (& more)

What'southward not bad nigh using simple forms is that you don't take to be a professional artist to describe them!

I like to draw very messy in the first. If I like the drawing, I'll utilize another slice of tracing paper to refine my basic plant forms even farther. I continue to do this until I'grand happy with the concluding drawing.

Phases of my garden drawings using tracing newspaper over a printed photo. Illustration by Pretty Purple Door.

Remember that it doesn't matter how "fancy" your drawing looks. As long every bit information technology's articulate and easy to understand, you lot are on the right rail.

Here'southward another example, where I've sketched basic institute forms on tracing paper placed over my graph paper. Notice how I tried to apply unlike establish forms to continue the pattern interesting? I started to add the names of plants I recollect would work in this pattern… only if you lot're not sure what plants to use nonetheless, that's totally fine, as well. I'll show y'all how to practice this in Step 5. Analogy by Pretty Purple Door.

Just in case you're dreading this "sketching" function, I've put together a free printable plant form worksheet that yous can use. I've drawn all the plant forms for y'all and provide you with a variety of dissimilar sizes to choose from.

All y'all have to practise is print out the constitute forms and colour them in to suit your needs. Yous tin cutting around each of the plant forms and rearrange them to see how they will look against the photo yous took in step 1. How easy and fun is that?

Here, all of my plant forms are cut out and I'm ready to kickoff having fun arranging the different plants along the foundation. Take hold of the gratis printable here.

Whether you're drawing out your simple forms by hand or using the costless download, here are some tips to brand sure that y'all're on the right rails:

• Fifty-fifty flowers tin accept a unique class and construction that adds interest to a pattern. Like alliums, for instance.
• Using a variety of plant forms creates interest.
• Echo the same plant forms to create unity in your design.
• Focus on the basic forms that fit into your surroundings, rather than specific plants.

Plant forms aren't just for shrubs and perennials. Even flowers can have a unique course and structure, similar these alliums in the drawing. Analogy by Pretty Regal Door.

Nonetheless Stuck? Attempt using the Blocking Method. Below is a short video for how this method works.

Here's a quick overview of the blocking method. You can read more near it hither.

5- Choice Your Plants Last

Have you noticed that throughout the entire process of drawing a killer garden plan, nosotros haven't even idea much near plants?

So foreign, isn't it?

Just, choosing the right plants for your garden space, while it's important, information technology'due south usually one of the last steps. Pattern and planning ever comes showtime.

Although I'grand drawing simple shapes and forms in my plans, I often have some idea of what plants I want to use in a given design. Only, I don't force plants into my designs, if that makes sense.

Even if you take no clue what plants to use, that'southward ok. One time you've created a garden programme with constitute forms that yous similar, y'all can and so inquiry plants that are a similar size and shape to what yous drew.

Websites like Garden.org allow y'all to inquiry plants by all different characteristics that will arrange your growing weather condition and tastes.

Luckily, there are southo many plant options available to us in every different shape and size. Yous'll take plenty of plants to choose from, so don't worry about choosing your plants until the cease. Get the garden plan drawing worked out first!

Wrapping Up

Now that you're privy to my superlative five tips for drawing a killer garden plan, you tin skip the stress of staring anxiously at a bare page and actually enjoy the incredibly fun and creative procedure of designing your dream garden!

First, take measurements and get to know the space where you plan to put your garden. Await at the area from different angles and snap some photos of dissimilar views.

At present, sit down with some printer/bond paper or graph paper and use tracing paper to come up with different ideas. I unremarkably have some plants in mind during this procedure, but I don't try to force anything. Just draw unproblematic shapes similar rounded, oval, pyramidal and spreading. Endeavour to contrast the sizes and shapes of your plants to make it interesting. If drawing feels besides difficult for you, grab my printable found course worksheet so you can just cut out the plant shapes and movement them around the page.

One time you have the basic shapes mapped out, you tin can then choose your plants. Brand sure to inquiry all of the plants you plan. Use a website with lots of filters and advanced searching like garden.org. Choose plants that will thrive in the conditions that you have vs. what you wish you had. And, effort to choose a variety of long-blooming perennials or plants that create interest at unlike times of the year.

If yous're looking for more assistance in designing your dream garden, be certain to check out my Design Your iv-Flavor Garden Course, where I'll accept yous step-past-step through my own process for creating the 4-season garden programme of your dreams.

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Don't forget to pin this post for later on. Illustrations by Pretty Royal Door.

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Source: https://www.prettypurpledoor.com/garden-drawing/

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