You can plan your garden and landscape by simply using your imagination. However, it is better to visualize the design on paper or in a software program. To plan a garden, patio, or deck, you don’t need to purchase expensive software. You can get many free tools from your browser. This allows you to focus your money on the plants and accessories that will enhance your yard.
Are you ready to transform your backyard? These landscape design tools are free and available online.
1. Better Homes & Gardens’ Plan-a-Garden
Better Homes & Gardens’ Plan-a-Garden can help you bring your dream backyard to life. Sign up to create an account and you will have access to the drag-and-drop backyard design tool.
After opening the tool, a sketch will appear of a home. To change the background to any other sketch, click Change Background. This will open the tool with a sketch of a home. You can upload your own photo if you don’t see one similar to your home.
After you have selected an image, you will be able to browse the elements on the right side of your screen. You’ll find Plants that allow you to drag and drop vegetables, trees, and bushes into your design. The Structures tab contains a range of lawn decor you can add to your yard. Textures allows you to “paint” on a lawn or patio.
Some elements are currently behind paywalls, but you still have plenty of plants, structures and textures to choose from.
2. Gardena myGarden Planner
Gardena myGarden is a great tool, especially if your goal is to install a smart irrigation system. Start by drawing your garden’s shape or using a premade template.
To make your plot of land look like your yard, you can add trees, fences and furniture to the map. This tool will not provide extensive information about vegetables and plants because it is more focused on landscaping.
You can find the Sprinkler System tab in the left-hand navigation. Gardena does the calculations automatically and will place your sprinklers and pipeline based on your yard size.
3. VegPlotter
Register on VegPlotter to visualize the season’s crops and create your garden. It is one of the best gardening websites. To replicate your garden layout, drag and drop garden plots below the Add tab.
To add plants to your garden, navigate to the Plan This Month tab. VegPlotter will automatically filter out plants that aren’t in season. You can change the month at the top to adjust the season if you wish to plan.
VegPlotter lets you adjust your landscape. You can place everything from brick walls, fences and sheds to your yard in the Add Structures Section.
If you enjoy VegPlotter, we recommend our roundup of mobile apps that can help you plant.
4. TimberTech Deck Design
Do you want to build a deck in your yard? TimberTech Deck Designer is the best tool to visualize your deck. You have the option to choose from several templates or start from scratch.
To get a head start, you can click View Inspiration. This function allows you to view a 3D model of your deck and make changes to the deck or railings. Select View Templates if you wish to customize a deck size or style. If you prefer full control of your deck’s layout, click Build Your own.
TimberTech Deck Designer offers a wide range of customization options. You can change the width and color of your deck, as well as the type and style of the railings.
5. Marshalls Paving Planner
A stone patio can be a great addition to your backyard. These spaces are perfect for relaxing on hot days or having a barbecue. Once you have created an account, you will be able to access the planner. This planner will give you a clear blueprint that can be used to inspire your design ideas.
You will need to enter the dimensions of the paving area when you begin a new project. Click Sketch your paving area and the planner will create a preliminary plan.
Click Change Shape to change the shape of your patio. You have the option to choose from a rectangle, rectangle, L shape, circle, semicircle, or circular paving area. You can bring your blueprint to life with a border or change of pavement type. It is possible to incorporate paving circles into your design.
6. SmartDraw Backyard Designs
SmartDraw is a useful tool you can use for creating flowcharts and floor plans, organizational charts, diagrams, and other visual aids. It also provides a free software for landscape design on its website.
SmartDraw’s best feature is the fact that you don’t have to start over. To find the perfect blueprint for your yard, you can look through a variety of templates.
SmartDraw’s wide range of design tools allows you to drag and drop landscaping furniture, greenery, and even a pool right into your drawing once you have selected a template. The powerful, yet simple-to-use tool can also be used to rearrange and change the size of each element.
7. Lowe’s Deck Designer
Lowe’s Deck Designer will help you create a vision of your deck. You can either draw your deck from scratch or use a template as a starting point.
The deck designer allows you to modify the dimensions of the decking, railings and substructures. To modify the deck’s layout, you can hit the Modify Layout button at the top-right corner.
Lowe’s has all the deck components you want in your design. After you have completed building your deck, click Product Listing to see a breakdown of the cost of your future deck.
8. HomeByMe Design Planner
HomeByMe gives you a detailed look at your backyard and is a powerful tool for home design. The HomeByMe planner allows you to design the interior of your house, and it also includes a landscape design tool.
You can incorporate different sizes and shapes into your backyard by designing a patio, garden, or driveway. You can also include outdoor furniture and decorations.
You can find inspiration on the site’s Inspiration tab, which allows you to view backyard designs made by other users.
Keep in mind, however, that HomeByMe’s free version only allows for three saved projects and allows you to only create three realistic renderings. The free version is worth a try.
Get free online landscaping tools to beautify your backyard
To create your dream backyard, you don’t need to spend a lot of money or time in high-tech software. This free software allows you to create gardens, decks, and patios right from your browser.
Even better, these tools don’t require any design skills. You only need creativity and an idea of how you want your garden or yard to look.
