Types

• Landscaping design tools can be as simple as a piece of paper and a pencil, or as complicated as a three-dimensional computer program. These are tools you can use to physically plan the design of your garden or yard. Other tools that a landscape designer uses include the color, texture and form of the plants and other design elements, and various ways of placing the individual elements.
  
  

Features

• Read reviews of landscape design software to evaluate the features of each one before choosing one. These kinds of applications can be difficult to learn, so if you haven't used one before, look for one that has tutorials and other features that help you learn to use it. Because a landscape is three-dimensional, it's best to choose a program that represents objects in 3-D. Especially, look for a 3-D walk-through feature that lets you view the design from all angles as if you were walking around in the yard or garden you are designing. Other features that are handy include settings to simulate the light during various times of the day, and a simulator that will show you what the landscape will look like after the plants have grown a bit. Beyond that, look for the ability to add elements you are interested in such as water features, sidewalks, stairs and driveways. If you plan to use the program in conjunction with any other software, you will want to check out which types of files each program will import and export.
  
  

Benefits

• The benefit of computers is that they can give the equivalent of professional advice and assistance without the cost of a professional landscape architect. Computer applications can also help you visualize what your design will look like. The benefits of using paper and pencil are that there is no learning curve and no expense. If you are a novice, you can do some reading and plan your garden at virtually no cost if you use only paper and pencil.
  
  

Considerations

• No matter which method you choose, you can use the designer's tools of color, texture and form to plan an attractive landscape. Use colors to create a mood: reds and pinks for a warm mood, or cool colors such as lavender and blue to give your garden a restful feeling. You can create a color scheme that has many similar colors or use complementary colors to add interest or make one kind of plant stand out. Choose plants and building materials with varying textures to add to the interest and help make the most of the space. Integrate and repeat various forms or shapes throughout the yard to give it a unified look, and pay attention to the lines created by the various elements; decide if you want them straight or curved, vertical or horizontal.
  
  

Expert Insight

• Every yard is different; you want your yard and landscape to reflect your personality, so it doesn't have to be just like the neighbor's. Choose elements that give a unified feel and a sense of balance to your yard. Take into account the size of the yard and the house to keep things in proportion, and look for areas of transition where you are moving from a wooded area to an open lawn, or from an area that is wild to a section where you have a planned garden. Decide on one or two main focal points, but also repeat shapes and kinds of plants to help make the yard look planned and not random.