The Tucson Gardener

Bed of winter leaf lettuce.

 Current Cultivations

Garden Clubs

Garden Books

In the Garden Calendar

Tucson's Wildlife


Ruby Swiss chard.

Local Garden Links

Links for Special Needs

The Archive

The Tool Shed

Snow peas ready for harvest.

FAQ

Glossary

Search

Site Index

You're visiting Tucsongardener.com

Software Review
This is the second time I've purchased this software by Sierra. I didn't use it the first time when I purchased the plain LandDesigner and I'm not all that sure I'll really use it now that the original package has been upgraded to the Complete LandDesigner ($49.95 suggested retail price). 

For most of us, unless we hire a landscape architect, the home's landscape evolves. You have a general idea of what you want and then you add trees, shrubs, grass, ground covers, etc. Over time you'll add and remove what you think works in your landscape. The premise behind software packages like Complete LandDesigner is you can see a representation of what your landscape will look like before you ever plant a thing.

The complete in Complete LandDesigner must come from the fact the two CD package includes:

3D Landscape
Photo LandDesigner (you can import a photo of your home and then landscape around it using drag and drop.)
Garden Encyclopedia
3D Deck and a user manual.

I read most of the manual, browsed the Garden Encyclopedia and ignored 3D Deck and Photo LandDesigner and zeroed in on 3D Landscape to see if I could design my side yard using the program.

If you can get through any frustrations you might develop while learning how to use the program you'll find Complete LandDesigner is quite a package for the money. If you'd rather spend time in front of your computer monitor instead of in the garden by all means have fun dropping, dragging and designing the different elements in 3D Landscape.

The first time through the program offers video and guidance to help you along your way as you draw out your property boundaries and a representation of your home. For me this was the most difficult and I never did quite get my house to look right with its long porch, 8 foot sliding glass doors and sloping property.

You also need to add driveways, patios, walls, walks, etc. The more willing you are to explore the program the easier it'll become. I spent a couple of hours and that was my limit before I printed out a black & white top view of my proposed landscape that was actually kind of neat; a 3D view that I wouldn't write home about, and a price list for the things I would need to complete my landscape. 

I later printed out a sample garden included with the package in color and had the same impression as I did in black and white. The top view is okay, the 3D was a waste of printer ink.

There's also a design guide that suggests different garden ideas along with site preparation and more. The program will also connect you with the Sierra Web site so you can download some add-ons for the program such as more houses, additional trees and shrubs, fountains and spring flowering plants.

I have to admit that Complete LandDesigner is close to what it says it is - complete. There are gardeners who may want to spend the time in front of their computer monitors designing and tweaking their landscape. Then there are those gardeners who'd rather read magazines or visit other gardens to get their ideas before they plant. Personally, I'd rather dig in the soil and watch my garden evolve. And if I don't like my end results or think I need help, I'll leave the designing to the landscape architects. (1998)

|  Current Cultivations  |  Garden Clubs  |  Garden Books  |  In the Garden Calendar  |  Tucson's Wildlife  |  Local Links  |  Links for Special Needs  |  The Archive  |  The Tool Shed  |  FAQ  |
 |  Glossary  |  Search  |  Site Index  |