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Hi Anne
I don’t have any US specific plant databases. I use PlantManager for my planting plans and this has a database of 6000 plants. It has a free version to try.
I’ve actually just begun compiling a list of free, open source and cheaper software that could be helpful for a design office. I’ve got 7 listed now but will continue to add to it as I…[Read more]

anne – check plant ant (https://www.plantant.com), plan gird, adobe ideas and scale. 

i tried progeCad… not reliable for mac! crash a lot…

joshua – yep! got it… works fine

robert – running latest version. good point!

I used M-Color a bit several years ago. I tried Impressions, but found it too cartoony. For big site plans I just use solid color hatching. I have added color hatching to plant symbol blocks to use as well. It is just quick down and dirty to present commercial plans without a lot of detail.
 
Either of them requires closed polylines which can be…[Read more]

The point being that you’d still be the same competent LA that you are now or ten years ago if you had no choice but to find an alternative to using your skilled hands much like your dad using his other hand. … also changed from one cast to two before posting that because I knew you’d say that you would switch hands.
 
YOU would still be…[Read more]

I would consider one of the inexpensive off the shelf “do-it-yourself” home designer packages before subjecting someone to as intense as that.

As an alternative you could explore using Vectorworks Landmark. It has the ability to produce attractive plans and, in my opinion, if your not encumbered with the way AutoCAD does things you will lean much…[Read more]

Seriously, Revit! Are you kidding! This is like using a sledge hammer to drive finish nails!

There is a great Dirr App available for the iphone and iPad.  It’s very good and includes photos and searchable criterea such as colours.   Definetly worth the 15.00.
 

I was in school between ’81-’83 when everything was taught by hand. I dropped it because I did not have drawing hands that would allow me to move forward in the profession at that time. Fifteen years later I got my degree because I learned how to draw using CAD …. because I had to. I’m still learning autoCAD. It is a ridiculously complex program…[Read more]

 “But, autoCAD is a “production tool”………..NOT a “design tool”.”

That is correct. I don’t think anyone believes otherwise. You bring this up every time someone has a cad related question. It is not a religion that you either believe in or you are against. It is a tool that some people use – just as you stated. Those that use it have…[Read more]

I believe Tosh K understated the ‘learning curve’ aspect of the whole thing. It takes quite some time before you can get something satisfying out of your time investment.

If you are already :
– busy
– good at the techniques you use
I’d  suggest you focus your spare time improving your skill-set where you’re good, and hire someone to do the c…[Read more]

I know FL Wright would be outsourcing it all overseas.

Allan,

If you are doing planting plans out of a nursery for your customers I would expect that you’d be looking for something with a quick learning curve so that you can produce foundation planting plans, accent gardens and an occasional walkway or patio layout. There are actually some half decent software programs available to do that in some…[Read more]

Revit, maybe, if you want something to that will produce plans, sections and 3-d at the same time. I’m just beginning to learn Revit myself, but it seems better than CAD. Here are the system requirements: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=15385625&linkID=21208795
 

Hi Laurent
Have you tried progeCAD? I don’t use mac so not sure how good it is
Regards
Paul Stafford

Thanks Matthew. I know a lot of people that use Photoshop too. I’ve just found the process a little longer than I’d like, though gets great results.

Thanks Jason. Yes I know M-Color…I used it ages ago and had forgotten about it. I’ll have another look because my memory of it was it was pretty quick with good output.

Regards
Paul Stafford

If you are looking for something with similar capabilities that actually works (quite well, in fact), check out M-Color.
Once you get it set up and learn how it works, it plots CAD plans into color renderings near instantly. Makes great and tiny PDFs of those plans, too. I used it for years at one of my former employers and it was very…[Read more]