10 Best Free Garden Design Apps | Garden Junkie (2024)

Are you looking to design your garden but don’t know where to start? Check out our 10 best free garden design apps below. With the advent of technology, designing your garden has never been easier. There are numerous garden design apps available in the market that can help you create the garden of your dreams. In this post, we will introduce you to the 10 best free garden design apps that can help you design your garden like a pro.

The 10 garden design apps we will be discussing in this post have a range of features to cater to different needs. Whether you are a beginner or a professional landscape designer, there is an app for everyone. We will be discussing the features of each app and what makes it unique. We will also be discussing additional features to consider when choosing the best garden design app for your needs. So, let’s dive in and explore the world of garden design apps.

Key Takeaways

  • There are numerous free garden design apps available that can help you create the garden you always wanted.
  • The 10 best free garden design apps have a range of features to cater to different needs.
  • Whether you are a beginner or a professional landscape designer, there is an app for everyone.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Free Garden Design Apps

If you’re looking for a free garden design app, you’re in luck. There are plenty of options to choose from, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are the top 10 free garden design apps to help you plan your perfect garden:

If you’re looking for a free garden design app, you’re in luck. There are plenty of options to choose from, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are the top 10 free garden design apps to help you plan your perfect garden:

Garden Planner

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Garden Planneris a simple and easy-to-use online garden planner for both Mac and Windows that allows you to create a custom garden plan in just a few minutes. You are able to have a 15-day free trial to try out the app, before a one-time $38 payment, thereafter all updates and upgrades are free.

You can choose from a wide variety of plants and garden elements (over 1200), and the app will automatically generate a planting and layout plan for you. You can even print out your plan and take it with you to the garden centre.

Features:

  • User-friendly interface for easy navigation and use
  • Save and load your own unique designs
  • A wide range of generic plant shapes available for design purposes
  • Professional-looking printouts of your plans
  • Tools for quick creation of paving, fences, and paths
  • Generate a report of all the plants and objects in your garden
  • Easy layout of vegetable and herb beds
  • 3D view to see your 2D designs in 3D
  • Create a library of custom plants for use in your designs

Best Free Garden Design Apps: Getting Started With Garden Planner

Plan-a-Garden

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Plan-a-Garden is an online planner that allows you to design your garden in 2D or 3D.

You can get started on designing your dream garden quickly with this Plan-a-Garden by Better Homes & Gardens.

Whether on desktop or mobile, this easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder offers a 3D view of a wide variety of over 150 plants and trees, you can also add dozens of garden elements including ponds, patios and fences. Then the app will automatically generate a planting and layout plan for you.You can also save and print out your plan for future reference.

With a user-friendly wizard to guide you through the process, simply select a background scene from pre-made templates and customise it with fences, benches, and arbours. Filter plants by type, size, and light to create the perfect garden. Finish it off by creating a surface on your garden plan, such as gravel, stones, brick paths, tiles, or lawns.

Worried about losing progress? No problem! Your garden can be saved online, and once completed, you can save the image of your garden and export a list of the plants included.

Gardena’s My Garden

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Gardena’s My Garden is a free and simple-to-use, drag-and-drop garden planner that gives you the ability to add plants, architectural elements, and even garden objects like a BBQ. This app can be used online and or mobile.

However, my preference when designing anything is to have it on a large screen.

The result is an approachable garden design in a hand-drawn architectural style that is both as simple, and creative as one could wish to find in a garden planner. You can use the software to add things like sprinkler systems to figure out how to water your garden and keep it looking healthy and beautiful.

Once designed, you can also use the software to add things like sprinkler systems to figure out how to water your garden and keep it looking healthy and beautiful.

Best Free Garden Design Apps: Gardena My Garden

Smart Gardener

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Smart Gardener is a web-based garden planner that helps you plan and manage your garden. The app allows you to plan your vegetable gardeneasily.

While it may not be as detailed as many other online planners, Smart Gardener allows you to easily build your planting beds, add your desired plants, and print off a detailed list of everything in your garden.

You can choose from a wide variety of plants, and the app will generate a customised planting and layout plan for you. You can also track your garden’s progress and get reminders for important tasks.

You can choose from square, rectangular, circular, and triangular planting beds, and adjust them to your desired size. Adding plants is as simple as dragging them from the sidebar and dropping them onto the bed.

Once you’re done with your garden plan, you can print it out. The printout includes a detailed illustration of the garden, along with a list of all the plants, their seed depth, spacing, and plant height.

Once you have checked out the free demo and are happy with the app, the cost for using this tool is $15 for 90 days of unlimited access (which is a great feature for those who just need a one-off plan) or $40 for 360 days.

Note: Although Smart Gardener uses climate data for the US to make plant recommendations, users outside the US can still change Smart Gardener’s recommendations to their own location by manually editing your growing conditions from the garden settings. To know more, visit Smart Gardener Growing Conditions.

DreamPlan

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DreamPlanis afree(for non-commercial use) home and landscape design software, forWindowsor Macdesktops, it allows you to create a super switchable 2D or 3D model of your home and or garden.

For those more adventurous and tech-savvy amongst you, DreamPlan Home design software is a very powerful and user-friendly program that allows users to create intricate architectural, gardening and landscaping plans in a 2D and 3D environment.

The software comes equipped with a range of highly useful tools and utilities that can be used by both professionals and beginners alike. All options are found withindrop-down menus at the top of the screen, users are then presented with choices such astrees and shrubbery,even garden furniture, BBQ orfirepitswhen creating a virtual garden landscape.

You can choose from a wide variety of plants and garden elements, and the app will generate a planting and layout plan for you. You can also add custom features like water features and outdoor lighting.

If you have an existing garden layout, users have the option to scan and upload these existing layouts, which can then be utilized to generate a new 2D or 3D model of the garden or landscape.

Best Free Garden Design Apps: Getting Started with DreamPlan

Garden Puzzle

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With many UK users, one of the key features of Garden Puzzle is its cloud-based storage system. Users can save their garden designs online, allowing them to access them from any device with an internet connection.

Start by simply uploading a photo of your garden and start designing right away, using a tablet or smartphone, just save your project and then come back to it later on your home computer.

Suitable for Windows/Android or MAC operating systems, Garden Puzzle software comes equipped with a comprehensive database of over 1500 plants from various climate zones, as well as a range of decorative elements such as arbours, fences, and garden furniture, making it easy to quickly visualise any landscaping idea.

Additionally, the texture tools provided can be used to seamlessly add lawns, paths, terraces, or water features to your garden design.

Another great feature of Garden Puzzle is its user-friendly interface. The app is designed to be easy to use, and it offers a range of tools and features that make it simple for users to create and customise their garden designs. For example, users can easily add and remove plants, change the layout of their garden, and adjust the size and shape of their garden beds.

In addition to its user-friendly interface, Garden Puzzle also offers a range of advanced features that make it a powerful tool for garden design. Users can easily create custom plant lists, track the growth of their plants, and even create 3D models of their garden designs.

One of the best things about GardenPuzzle is that it is designed to be accessible to everyone. The app is available in multiple languages, and it offers a range of tutorials and guides that make it easy for users to get started with a garden design.

You can start with a ‘free demo’ and choose one of 3 great plans from $19 for 6-month access.

Overall, GardenPuzzle is an excellent garden design app that offers a range of features and tools for users of all skill levels. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this app is a great tool for planning and designing your new or existing garden layout.

Garden Visualiser

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Unfortunatly, not supported currently for mobiles or tablets, only desktop environments,Garden Visualiser is a totally free online planner that allows you to create a 2D & 3D model of your garden.Marshalls Garden Visualiser is an excellent tool offered by Marshalls to help users design their outdoor spaces.

One of the most significant features of this online garden planner is that it enables users to specify the exact size of their garden.Additionally, users can customise the shape of the ground to match their garden design ideas.

When using Garden Visualiser, users are prompted to add a boundary to their garden, such as fences, walls, or hedges. This feature ensures that the garden design is well-defined and that users can plan their garden accurately.

Once the boundary is set, users can choose from various garden themes or build a custom design from scratch. Furthermore, users can upload a picture of their home to the Garden Visualiser tool, allowing them to see how the new garden layout will look next to their home.

Marshalls Garden Visualiser offers a wide range of products that can be added to the garden design, including paths, garden edgings, greenhouses, sheds, walling, and paving. With all these products at their disposal, users can create a unique and personalised garden design that suits their specific needs and preferences.

After completing the garden design, users have the option to either find an approved installer to help them build the garden or to request information from Marshalls to order all the necessary products to build it themselves.

Marshalls Garden Visualiser is an excellent tool for anyone looking to design their outdoor spaces. With its 3D visualisation capabilities and customisation features, users can create a garden design that is tailored to their specific needs and preferences. The tool is easy to use, and with the option to add various products to the garden design, users can bring their garden vision to life. Whether you’re a professional landscaper or a DIY enthusiast, Marshalls Garden Visualiser is an excellent tool that can help you create the garden you want.

VegPlotter

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Working on all platforms, desktop, mobile and tablet, VegPlotter is an online garden planner designed specifically for vegetable gardens.

The software provides users with a comprehensive garden planning experience, with features that cater to both beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

The Veg Plotter software allows users to design their vegetable garden by dragging and dropping plants and structures onto a virtual garden plot. Users can choose from over 100 vegetables that are preloaded into the software, as well as add their own custom plants if required.

The garden planner also includes a planting calendar that provides users with information on when to plant, harvest, and care for their crops.

The software is designed to be user-friendly, with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and use.Users can save their garden designs and access them from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.

The software provides users with useful information on each plant, including planting and care instructions, as well as information on companion planting.

Veg Plotter offers a free version of the software, which includes basic features and allows users to plan unlimited garden layouts.

The essentials version of the software costs £15 per year (you can get a 7 day free trial) and includes additional features such as the ability to plan a planting calender, crop rotaion warnings, companion planting suggestions and much more.

The advanced option cost £24 per year and includes additional features such as adding custom plants.

Their are also monthly payment structures for the essentials and advanced options also if users prefer.

Overall, Veg Plotter is an excellent tool for anyone looking to plan and design their vegetable garden. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features, it makes garden planning a breeze.

The software is reasonably priced, and users can choose the subscription plan that best suits their needs. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, VegPlotter is an excellent tool that can help you create the vegetable garden of your dreams.

Best Free Garden Design Apps: Getting Started with VegPlotter

iScape

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iScape is an excellent app for anyone looking to design their outdoor living spaces.

The app is designed to make it easy for users to visualise their garden designs in a 3D space, with features that cater for both beginners and experienced users.

The app can also useiScape’s augmented reality to overlay landscape design plans on top of real-life images captured by the user’s smartphone camera. This is a fantastic feature, that really brings your plans to life before you start.

Users can also choose from a wide range of plants, trees, and outdoor structures to add to their garden design.The app provides users with useful information on each plant, including planting and care instructions.

The app is designed to be user-friendly, with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate and use.Users can save their garden designs and access them from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.

The app also includes a feature that allows users to share their garden designs with others which is another one of the features we like about iScape. Another plus for this app is that iScape also has a great community of active users, designers and industry partners, all working together to help make projects come to life.

The iScape app is available for ‘free’ on both iOS and Android platforms.The free version of the app includes basic features, while the premium version as one would expect includes many additional features such as the ability to save and share designs and access to a wider range of plants and structures, proposed tool use and much more.

The pro version of the app costs $29.99 per month or $299 per year.

GrowVeg

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If you’re looking for garden planning software that can help you design and plan your own vegetable garden, the GrowVeg garden app is definitely worth considering.

With almost 200 objects to choose from, including raised beds, fencing, paths, and drip irrigation, this app offers a wide range of features that can help you create a successful garden.

One of the main benefits of the GrowVeg garden app is that it allows you to choose from thousands of varieties from many of the most popular seed suppliers around the world. This means that you can find the right seeds for your garden and ensure that you’re planting the right crops at the right time.

Moreover, the planner includes more than 250 types of vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers, along with videos and written guides that provide comprehensive information on planning and producing a successful garden.

Another great feature of the GrowVeg garden app is that it provides advice on soil preparation, companion planting, and pest and disease control. This can be incredibly helpful for new gardeners who are just starting out and may not be familiar with the best practices for growing vegetables.

The GrowVeg Garden Planner is versatile and can be used for different garden styles such as rows, raised garden beds, square foot gardens, and container gardens. It emphasises data and optimising the timing and placement of plants, and includes a feature to send email reminders for planting crops.

Using this tool, you can efficiently plan and manage your garden, ensuring that it flourishes all season long.

The pricing structures for the GrowVeg garden app are also reasonable. With a free 7-day trial, you can try the app out before committing to a subscription. After the trial period, the app costs £35 per year for a single user and there after £25 per year or save some money with a 2 year subscription for £60.

Overall, the GrowVeg garden app is a great tool for anyone who wants to design and plan their own vegetable garden. With a range of features and a reasonable pricing structure, it’s definitely worth considering.

Check Out GrowVeg

Best Free Garden Design Apps: Getting Started with GrowVeg

FAQ’s

Can I Design a Garden With Specific Climate or Region Considerations?

Some of the best free garden design apps provide information about plant hardiness zones or specific climate considerations. While these apps may not cover all regions, they can help you make informed decisions about plant selection based on general climate data.

Can I Change The Size And Shape of my Garden in The App?

Yes, most of the best free garden design apps allow you to customise the size and shape of your garden area. You can adjust dimensions, add or remove sections, and experiment with different layouts to create the desired shape for your garden.

Are There Any Garden Design Apps Specifically For Small Spaces?

Yes, some of the best free garden design apps offer features and templates tailored for small gardens or urban spaces. These apps provide options for maximising space utilisation, selecting compact plants, and designing vertical gardens.

Can I Get Plant Care Reminders With These Apps?

While not all the best free garden design apps include plant care reminders, some apps provide additional features like plant libraries with care information or links to external resources for plant care guidance. You may also consider dedicated plant care apps or reminder apps to complement your garden design app.

Conclusion

These best free garden design apps have revolutionised the way we plan and visualise our outdoor spaces. With their user-friendly interfaces, extensive libraries, and powerful design tools, these apps provide valuable assistance in creating beautiful and functional gardens.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced gardener, using one of the best free garden design apps garden can save you time, money, and effort while helping you unleash your creativity. Explore the top 10 free garden design apps mentioned in this post, and start designing the garden you want today.

10 Best Free Garden Design Apps | Garden Junkie (2024)

FAQs

Is there a free app to design landscape? ›

Plan-a-Garden creates design plans to visualize and structure your garden. Its drag-and-drop functionality allows you to pick plants and add them to your design so you see how their shapes and colors work together. The free application supports experimentation with multiple trees, shrubs, and perennials for landscape.

What software do garden designers use free? ›

Planner 5D is a beautiful and powerful landscape design software that makes the created landscape look very realistic. You can see it in perspective, as well as diversify it, using the built-in wide library of objects and models.

Is there a free AI tool for landscape design? ›

Neighborbrite - Free AI Landscape Design Inspiration.

Is there an app to design your own garden? ›

Smartdraw

If you're planning a garden from scratch, Smartdraw is the app to use. It has an intuitive, easy to use tool for drawing and mapping out your design. Choose from a blank garden or pre-designed and away you go, adding plants, paths and features to make your garden come to life.

Is iScape really free? ›

How much does iScape Cost? The app is totally FREE to download and to trial on a limited basis.

What is the best free 2D landscape design software? ›

VizTerra is a garden design software that is available for both online and offline use so landscape designers can develop 3D models from 2D rendering. The app has a free trial which you can use before you delve into app purchases. VizTerra offers a broad library of design options to choose from.

Is Google SketchUp good for landscape design? ›

LayOut for SketchUp is a fantastic somewhat intuitive program that can be used very successfully for landscape and garden design. It has a much less complicated user interface than other CAD programs that are used in garden design.

What is the best AI tool for landscape design? ›

1. CityEngine by Esri. CityEngine by Esri is a specialized tool for urban planning, 3D city modelling, and landscape design. It leverages AI to generate realistic urban environments based on geographical data and user-defined parameters.

What software do garden designers use? ›

Professional landscape design provide the tools and automation to create accurate layouts and models of landscapes. Professional landscape designers and landscape architects can use Autodesk software to create 2D drawings or 3D models that save time, cost and materials.

What is the free AI app everyone is using? ›

Fotor is the top and most free AI app in 2024 for image editing and different tasks. Furthermore, Fotor is a platform where everyone can access innovative designs. You may use any design material in the AI design tools.

Is there an AI for garden design? ›

AI Garden Planner is an advanced AI-based application designed to assist gardeners of all levels.

Can I get AI to design my backyard? ›

RescapeAI is an intelligent tool designed to aid in garden design, leveraging the power of artificia... Yard Vision is an AI-powered tool that allows users to visualize and design their landscapes.

How much is iScape app? ›

iScape App Pricing

or $299.99/year (annual plan effectively lets you receive 2 months FREE!)

How do I plan my garden layout? ›

Map Out Your Plants

Sketch out your plan on paper. Use graph paper and draw to scale, keeping in mind the mature size and habit of each kind of plant. Site larger plants, like corn and tomatoes, where they won't cast shade over shorter plants. Choose compact varieties if you have limited space.

Is there a free app that you can take a picture of a room and design it? ›

Homestyler is a 3D interior design app that lets you create realistic home designs using augmented reality. The app enables you to take a picture of your space and add furniture and decor items to see how they will look in your room.

Can I use SketchUp free for landscape design? ›

Viewing Your Landscape Design in 3D

In the free Sketchup, there are different types of views for you to draw from. You can choose to start drawing directly in 3D. You can begin in plan view, which is a flat 2D view.

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