GardenCAD Software

We want students in this diploma to move to computer (CAD) drafting as soon as possible. We do not believe that you can work profitably in landscape design unless you move to CAD. Accordingly, every student who enrols in this diploma will be given a copy of GardenCAD Pro. This Windows tool is now a mature application. It is specially designed for landscape use, and has been developed over several years while we have been teaching CAD, and landscape design, to groups of students at a local TAFE college.

What can you do with GardenCAD?

Imagine being able to quickly produce a number of CAD drawings showing alternative designs to a client. Consider the possiblity of visiting with the client and together altering the concept 'on the fly'. Eliminate scratching out parts of paper drawings and the need to redraw. 

Plant symbols

GardenCAD comes with a wide range of pre-drawn symbols which can be printed on any size sheet (and to a PDF file) in full colour. Attractive designs are created simply by dragging these symbols into position.

A demonstration

Click the link below to play a short movie demonstrating GardenCAD's capabilities. If this movie plays, you can hear commentary and see the mouse moving as we explain concepts, then your computer and internet connection is suitable for our online learning system.

 http://www.gardencad.net/movies/FirstLookAtGardenCAD.wmv.

A sample drawing

With GardenCAD it's possible to learn to create professional CAD plans stamped with your own personality as shown in the figure below - a rather quirky design for a small courtyard. Designing a suitable scheme for this outdoor classroom is one of the first projects you will complete in the course. We will ask you to complete a design for this outdoor space both by hand and by CAD techniques using GardenCAD. 

This software will enable you to do everything a professional landscape designer requires - draw site boundaries, insert planting symbols, etc.  It is also in large part, AutoCAD and IntelliCAD compatible and so can be used by designers in other disciplines to learn CAD drafting without the need for purchasing expensive CAD software. 

 Note that GardenCAD is 2-D software. It does not work on Macintosh computers unless you boot into a Windows environment or install the WINE Windows emulator.