Question
Hi Marc,

My partner is currently doing a garden design course. She really isn't much of a drawer ( by her own admission - would I dare say that?) and whilst I am encouraging her to use and get used to a pencil ( I really loved engineering drawing during my apprenticeship) and she understands that she will not get a certificate without, but she would like to play with a garden design program.
I have searched the web and found them fro ?0 to ?00.  We all realised that the most expensive is not always the best, nor is the cheapest always the worst, but not being a gardener I am baffled. I (or she)  can't actually try these programs prior to buying of course, so the only alternative is to ask an expert if they have a preference, or if there is a 'place' on the web which gives an unbiased account of each.
Obviously should you recommend one you use (or 'dis-recommend'one you bought and couldn't get on with) it would be kept confidential.  I am after impartial advice, not an advert.
There is a 'freebie' on the BBC web site, which I down loaded for her, but I was not impressed with the limited parameters of the hard landscaping, and she tells me that the planting list was fairly basic.
If you need more information she can be contacted at [email protected].  She can talk sensibly about gardening.

Many thanks

Answer
You're not the first to want something that is simple, yet functional.  In August, I had a similar question.  There are a number of good, simple, inexpensive programs.  A head-to-head review of various software packages and their features (or lack of features) can be found here:

http://landscaping-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

And  here:

http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/56software.php

TopTenREVIEWS?is for folks (like me!) who cannot possibly review ALL the software available to the consumer, so it's a nice way to help in the selection process.  If the link was not valid, here is their 2006 list ?br>
Their  #1 pick for 2005 was 3D Home Architect Landscape Design Deluxe, but is no longer available, so they moved to the #10 slot.  Their  #2 pick, Master Landscape Pro & Home Design, moved into the #1 spot, followed by?br> #2  Imagine Pro
#3  Master Landscape & Home Design
#4  Custom LandDesigner 3D Design Home & Garden Suite
#5  Total 3D Home & Landscape Design Suite
#6  Total 3D Landscape Deluxe
#7  Landscape Vision
#8  Instant Landscape Design
#9  3D Landscape For Everyone

For the next level up, for the stand-alone professional software (with"import" functions for various CAD formats), would be something like Punch software, Growit, or Pro Landscape v11. (From about $80 to $1,300) It has irrigation design and other "wiz-bang" items that you don't really need to have for a typical residential design, but the professional can really use.

I personally use AutoCAD daily.  A single license retails for about $3,700 - more if you use a server.  We are a professional landscape architectural firm and we must be able to share files with Engineers and Architects.  It is the industry standard for us. (Some other areas use CADsoft or Microstation).  Lesser versions are AutoCAD lite (LT), or older versions (v.14, v 2000) that retail for less.

I've been clicking away in AutoCAD now for about 20 years.  The learning curve is steep, and would be a real "pain" just for a simple yard plan, but boy is it handy if I want to knock out plans that my Architect or
Engineer can insert directly into their building plans.  Plus, there are a lot of resources - details, special add-on modules, 3-D, automatic quantity take-offs, etc. available.

(Also ?my apologies for all the costs in dollars; just divide all the numbers by 1/2 to get approximate cost in British Pounds)  

Hope it helps.