Software-created designs can be rendered in 2D, 3D, and site plan (bird's eye view). In this case, Diane Squire of DJSquire Designs used Depiction software to create a 3D walkthrough of a residence, allowing the homeowner to get a better sense of what their home would look like. This residential project, designed for Haney Landscaping, is currently under construction in Southern California.

When presenting a project to a homeowner, design can make or break a deal. Homeowners have to see the design, but according to Diane Squire of DJSquire Designs, about 80 percent of homeowners can't visualize a project – making design software almost a necessity.

"Imaging software allows homeowners to see what the changes will look like on their homes," said Squire. Visualization can ultimately sell a project.

Programs are available to create designs in 2D, 3D, or as a site plan (bird's-eye view); come in a variety of price points, from free to over $2,000; and skill levels, from beginner to advanced. According to Squire every contractor will encounter a learning curve and should not attempt to learn new software at the season's height. Waiting until things are slower will prevent a stressful time crunch. Squire was able to thoroughly learn 2D software in a few hours, while 3D software took 40 hours to reach proficiency. It takes time, but once you can bring a designed space to life, you can secure more sales.

Punch! Software
Punch! Software has two programs on TopTenREVIEWS.com's best landscape design software list: Landscape, Deck & Patio Designer, and Home & Landscape Design Premium. Both have the option of creating custom site plans, or using pre-made templates. Once the template is created, there are over 4,000 plants, 5,000 pavers, and other outdoor materials to drag-and-drop onto the design. The main focus of Landscape, Deck & Patio Designer is decks and patios, including outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, hot tubs, and barbecues. Home & Landscape Design Premium, which was ranked second, allows the creation of buildings up to six stories tall and the addition of 3D images to a photo.

For Apple devices, a Landscape Quote app compatible with Punch's software is available to keep track of approximate costs of plants. The Lite version is free, and the full version is 99 cents. Landscape, Deck & Patio Designer costs $40 for a download or a DVD version. Home & Landscape Design Premium costs $100 for a download or DVD version, while a USB flash drive version costs $110. Web support is available for both products.
https://www.punchsoftware.com/c-35-all-products.aspx

Justin Cotton, a landscape designer with Peach Tree Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., designed this outdoor living area with a seatwall, outdoor fire pit and barbecue area. The design, made on VIP Suite, utilizes color and texture as eye-catchers.

 

Design software, such as PRO Landscape, gives visual representation of the contractor's ideas and provides accurate scaled measurements. With these in hand, contractors can create professional-looking and accurate estimates for clients.

Common features among design software include time of day settings, plants by climate zone, and hardscape customization. In addition to pools and water features, Pool Studio includes an extensive plant library, giving designs a realistic look.

Depiction Software
Depiction Software's Hardscape Imaging Software allows a 2D design to be created from an existing photo. More than just hardscapes, there are 2,900 plants that can be included in addition to 2,400 pavers from 13 name-brand manufacturers. Depiction offers both web and phone support.

To make sure you get the right software for you, Depiction only does sales over the phone. According to the website, the newest version of Hardscape Imaging Software is $500.
https://www.hardscapesoftware.com

Pro Landscape
The only software on this list with a free app for iPad and Android tablets, Pro Landscape by Drafix offers site plan, 2D, and 3D rendering options. The site plan feature works like CAD software, and can be switched from CAD style to a 3D rendering almost instantly. The 2D portion allows the addition of hardscapes, outdoor features, plants by climate zone, images of your own objects, light features in different times of day, and more to an existing photo. You can create a proposal, including pricing, in the software or the app. Technical support is free.

Diane Squire described Pro Landscape as "the kind of software to use on a project once you get the deposit check." It's slightly higher priced at $1,495, but once learned, can make designing on-the-spot quicker and easier. Each upgrade costs, but the accompanying app does not.
https://prolandscape.com

Structure Studios
Structure Studios has two programs: VizTerra and Pool Studio. VizTerra is geared towards landscape and hardscape designers and architects. Customization options include lighting, plants, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, retaining walls and more. Pool Studio, for swimming pool designers and builders, focuses on water features, including rock waterfalls and pools with custom depth. With both, you can create 3D hardscape and landscape designs using imported images or AutoCAD designs, and change the time of day to see how different lighting affects a design.

Structure Studios has monthly or yearly licenses. VizTerra or Pool Studio is $95 monthly per user. The yearly option discounts 13 percent to $82.92 monthly per user. VIP Suite is a bundle of the two programs, and costs $165 monthly per user. The yearly option discounts 15 percent to $141.25 monthly per user.
https://www.structurestudios.com/website/software

Idea Spectrum
Idea Spectrum offers three Realtime Landscaping programs. Realtime Landscaping Plus was ranked first on TopTenREVIEWS.com for landscape design. The nearly 10,000 objects featured, including over 4,000 plants customizable by climate zone, can be placed in an uploaded photo, a custom designed house, or an existing template. TopTenREVIEWS praises the variety of objects and templates available, the amount of design tools, and the ease of use.

Online tutorials, digital manuals, and phone and email support are available. Realtime Landscaping Plus is $80, and can be shipped or downloaded.
https://www.ideaspectrum.com

Northland Design Group used Land F/X, an AutoCAD plugin, to plot this extensive hardscape upgrade, including over 35 feet of grade change, at a residence in Park City, Utah. More than 4,000 square feet of stone was laid on the patios and stairs. The design team was careful not to affect the surrounding native plantings and open scenic areas.
www.landfx.com

When homeowners struggle with visualizing a project, design software allows a quick and easy way to show different features in the same space. If a homeowner knows they want a specific feature, but doesn't know or can't see what would look best, users can upload a "before" image and create a design right in their backyard.

Pro Contractor Studio
Pro Contractor Studio by Software Republic has landscape, irrigation, lighting, and drainage options for any size residential to medium size commercial drawings. Users create a site map where, according to Software Republic's website, "what you see is what you get." Video tutorials and online help are available.

PCS offers a subscription-based or full license service. Subscriptions are 30 days for $30, or a full year for $328.50 paid on an as-needed basis. If you only need it for 30 days, you get it for 30 days, and your designs are saved. Reactivate any time to create new designs or edit previous ones. The full license is $1,295, indefinite, and includes one free upgrade.
https://www.softwarerepublic.com/pcs/index.aspx

SketchUp
Google's SketchUp allows creation of a site from scratch in 3D. After an area has been laid out, SketchUp's 3D Warehouse of objects allows for nearly infinite customization from both new and existing models and textures. The 3D Warehouse is compatible with non-SketchUp programs, many of which encourage its use. Hundreds of SketchUp extensions and add-ons are available for download to customize the program to your needs.

The online tutorials are thorough, and the user forum provides help from users and staff. The price is right with SketchUp – SketchUp Pro, for commercial use, is $590, but SketchUp Make, for "everyone else" according to their website, is free.
https://www.sketchup.com

DynaSCAPE
DynaSCAPE offers three different compatible software options: Design, the base software for site plans; Color, which adds color to Design plans; and Sketch3D, a SketchUp add-on that converts DynaSCAPE designs from 2D to 3D.

According to Squire, "people react to color," connecting them to the design. 3D allows creation of a walkthrough video, putting the homeowners in the space and strengthening that connection.

Purchase options include the individual programs or software bundles. Design is $1,995 plus a monthly fee of $37.50. Color is $650 plus a monthly fee of $4.25. Sketch3D is $599 plus a monthly fee of $8.25. The full bundle is $2,850 plus $50 a month. Design plus Color and Design plus Sketch3D are also available.
https://www.dynascape.com

According to Diane Squire of DJSquire Designs, using a plant that has eye-catching colors and textures in a design, instead of a native or adapted plant, can secure a sale. When it comes to looking at the design, most homeowners will make decisions based on the overall picture rather than specific plants, which can be selected after a project has sold. VizTerra boasts over 77,000 variations of plants, trees, symbols and containers to give life to designs.

Chief Architect
Chief Architect's Home Designer Suite earned third place on TopTenReviews for its outdoor living features. The extensive plant, product, and water feature libraries give a strong sense of how the design will look in reality, including a "grow plants" tool to show how plants might appear later on. Few pre-made templates means most designs will be created from scratch or a photograph.

In addition to online tutorials and user forums, phone and email support are available. Home Designer Suite costs $99.
https://www.homedesignersoftware.com