10 Top Softwares for Landscape Design – The Landscape Library

Landscape design is a unique profession. It combines the science of botany with the process of making changes aesthetically to improve the physical appearance of a property and create better functionality of a space.

Landscape designers are always in need of utilizing a computer softwares that tailors to the needs of the designer.

These softwares are the answer to creating, managing and revising landscape projects throughout the process of design, from concept to construction documentation.

With the right landscape design software, designers can arrange and organize the various components of a landscape plan like plantings, patios, berms, walkways and lawn areas to make designing much easier, and much faster.

In the past, landscape design professionals were forced to create blueprints and drawings by hand, which required large sheets of paper, a pencil, and a scale. These tools make it easier to draw straight lines and keep the size of landscape elements consistent.

Traditionally, universities and colleges still teach how to draw landscapes by hand to instill the student with freeform and curvy lines from the natural movement of the hand. These tendencies and an-eye for good design are created through sketching and should translate into designing in softwares.

There are many different types of software available for landscape architects and designers, but which are the top softwares used by professionals in the industry?

When searching for a new software, these items are the most important to consider:

• How much does it cost per month?
• How many licenses/seats are included?
• What are the minimum system requirements?
• What operating system does it perform on? Mac, PC, both?
• What file format does the program save as? .dwg (most common)
• Can I import other file formats into the software? (PDF, JPEG, DXF, )
• What add-ons are available and how much do they cost?
• Is the user interface customizable to optimize workflow?
• Are the settings customizable?

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