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Has anyone used one of those 3d garden design programs that you can buy for your computer ? my garden completely needs landscaping and thought one of these may be a good place to start but no idea which one to buy as some look hideously complicated.

But I have seen a couple that have about 3000 plants and they tell you how big they grow,what soil etc. You can even add your patio set to the garden pic . And you draw then "walk round" your virtual garden! WOW!
Other prob is that I have vista on my pc and I have yet to see one that says can be used on vista.GRRR !
Anyone know if most things that state windows xp etc will work on vista ? x

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Jen x

Don't bother with CD......a garden on paper, unless it's just going to be patio and pots, will never look the same when planted.......plants are living, breathing, growing individuals, which often don't look anything like a photo will say they're going to.

Best advice I can give is....if you like it, plant it....anywhere you fancy, only thing to bear in mind is sunny side of garden and north facing side of garden, and any plants that hate the wind, always plant in a sheltered position.

I think a garden should have depth....therefore don't always put tall plants at the back of a planted area......and pots, big pots, placed in the flower bed will add interest. As for how big a plant will grow....my answer is...as big as you let it. That's what saws, secuteurs and hedge trimmers are for.

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ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THAT MEN ARE THE EQUAL OF WOMEN HAS NEVER SEEN A MAN TRYING TO WRAP CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.(anon)

thanks for that. I like the idea of the big pots as well. I thought the cd thing may be good as I don't just want a straight up and down garden with the boring lawn in the middle and wide long borders either side. Thought it may give me a bit of inspiration for pathways,pergodas,secret hide aways etc.
My mum has a 120ft garden that is all landscaped and it is soo beautiful.
She has lots of little gardens all within the garden.
She has a secret garden at the end which is soo romantic coz its got its own little lawn and is all secluded with a little bistrow set at the end. And she has sectret pathways which are sheltered by an L shaped pergoda which follows the shape of her koi pond and has been covered by ivy so all private and lovely. feels very hansel and gretal !
I just can't look at my garden and visualise how to do it.
And hers was already done when she bought it. x

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Jen x

I agree with Mardy - don't bother with the garden planning CD. I am in the processs or re-doing my garden. I started out with the garden planning software - got frustrated because it often did not have the plant I wanted despite having loads on and also the designs you could use were quite restrictive and not that inspirational. Went back to good old pencil and paper to design the shape I want it. For inspiration I have been buying gardening books from charity shops and flicking though them - have ended up with a hotch-potch of all different elements so it will be totally mine.
As far as choosing plants go to the garden centre and wander around going I like that think I will have one of those and then when I get home look them up in my book to check size they will grow and if they loose their leaves and from there decide where I am going to put it.
I have had a lot more fun doing it this way and don't have to spend my time getting frustrated with the computer because it won't do what I want

Have tried to use one of those planners before and found it quite tricky as you need all the measurements to make it look right. As for the Vista problem if you do get one of these programmes simply e-mail the makers of the software and ask for a vista patch...they should be able to send you a file to fix it...

but as has been said pen and paper are usually a good start, although if you can master the software being able to take a virtual tour around your new garden is quite cool.

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FAUN TO BE WILD...!!!

Thanks for that. I will bear it in mind about the vista tip too ! x

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Jen x