Modern property design encourages us to use our gardens as an extension of our homes.
Whether you’re lucky enough to live in a new home or have recently added an extension, you’ll know how architects emphasise an almost seamless boundary between your interior and the garden and entertainment area.
If it’s time you made some changes to your garden, these online tools can give you a headstart.
The Garden Planner
An app for Apple phones, it claims to be a “personal trainer for Australian vegetable gardeners”. It recommends what to plant and when for your local area.
Gardenate
Set this Australian-based app to your climate zone, and it will identify plants you can grow and when you should plant them.
Yates My Garden
A free app that you can use on Apple and Android phones. It features information on more than 1,000 plant species. You can also use its database to identify pests, diseases and weeds.
Gardena.com
A garden retailer, it offers several layout ideas. Its templates will use the measurements of your garden to ensure accuracy. Besides plants, you can include items such as a clothesline, football goal and even a trampoline.
Marshalls Garden Visualiser
This 3D planner allows you to upload a photo of your garden. While it’s a bit light on features, the result will reflect what your garden might look like. You can find it at www.marshalls.co.uk/garden-visualiser/.
Smartdraw.com
Use this site’s templates to give you a flying start to rejuvenate your garden. It also has templates for decks, patios and swimming pools.