How to Draw a Scale Garden Plan

Most homeowners are on the chase for the "best app" to use to design their garden, instead of hand-drawing their ain plan.

The problem is… you don't know what you don't know.

The truth is… apps are NOT the answer.

I know, I know. You're non Picasso. You're embarrassed by your ain stick figures. You can't visualize a garden out of a blank page.

But luckily, you've got me to guide you lot.

It'due south time to ditch the "can't do" attitude and useless apps. They're holding you back from getting your dream garden.

Past the end of this postal service, you'll exist able to depict your own killer garden plan that's unique to YOUR garden and YOUR style.

Let'due south become started!

Watch this video to learn how to draw a garden plan (or go along reading for the step-by-step instructions).

1- Get To Know Your Space

Before we hit the cartoon board, we need to hit the garden! A garden plan cartoon without a garden to put it in is… a drawing.

So, first, measure the expanse where your garden bed will be.

Brand a note of:

• The dimensions of your garden bed (length and depth).
  • What shape is your garden bed?
  • Is information technology symmetrical or asymmetrical?
• Anything you shouldn't block with plants (like windows, doorways, utility access).
  • Measure the dimensions of each object.
  • Measure how high above your garden bed they are.

Once y'all have these details, you'll be able to encounter potential problem areas before you even start drawing.

Sometimes, if at that place's a depression window or a utility area to deal with, it forces y'all to create an asymmetrical blueprint. It'south improve to know these things before yous get started. They're more difficult to correct after the fact.

Here are measurements of a raised garden bed in both programme view (tiptop left) and elevation view (bottom correct). If I were to just encounter the plan view drawing, I wouldn't accept noticed that the windows are only 24″ from the soil level. At present that I know this, I tin can design in a fashion that won't obstruct views from the window. Illustrations past Pretty Purple Door.

I know this measuring step feels kind of boring. But it'southward absolutely essential to create an accurate garden plan. Yous will never run across a professional designer skip this step… no matter how dull it may experience.

Merely recollect that if the design yous create on paper doesn't fit, blocks views or obstructs utilities, it fails.

"If your design works on paper it will work in real life."

-Amy Fedele, PrettyPurpleDoor

Once you have your measurements, information technology will be very easy for yous to plot out the garden infinite.

Bonus Tip: While you lot're measuring, snap some photos of the garden bed. Make sure you lot take pictures from different angles. And, definitely take one from straight on (continuing correct in front of your garden bed expanse). More than on this in the next department.

two- Option a View

Now that y'all accept your measurements, y'all'll demand to choose a view to draw from. At that place are a few dissimilar views to choose from. The cardinal here is to choose the view that will arrive easiest for you to visualize your garden space.

Garden plans tin be drawn from above (programme view), from directly in front (elevation view, or 1 indicate perspective) and in 3D (2 point perspective view). Illustrations by PrettyPurpleDoor.

• Is information technology easier to visualize your garden from above?
  This is called program view. In plan view, you'll view garden plants as a series of circles and other shapes. This is a view I typically use afterward in the process, when I'm choosing plants.
• Is information technology easier to visualize your garden from straight in front of information technology?
  This is called superlative view. This is a flat, ii-dimensional (second) view sometimes referred to as 1-signal perspective. It allows you to run into what your garden would look like while standing right in front of it.
• Is it easier to visualize your garden with depth in the space?
  This is called perspective view. This is the well-nigh detailed view y'all tin can use as it's a three-dimensional (3D) view. This is sometimes referred to equally ii-signal perspective. Drawing what your garden volition "actually" look like in 3D can sometimes be very confusing, especially if you're a beginner.

For the purposes of this post, nosotros're going to employ elevation view for our garden plan drawings.

A 2D tiptop drawing gives you the best of both worlds.

Y'all're able to visualize what the garden volition "actually" expect similar, without the added complication of drawing in 3 dimensions.

3- Use the Right Tools

Before nosotros get to cartoon, let's make sure that you lot have the correct tools available to yous.

Ditch the Apps

First, ditch the thought that an app or a drawing plan is going to help you to visualize your garden programme. Information technology's manner easier to exercise this by mitt, especially if all you need is a unproblematic drawing.

Here are some reasons that I generally don't recommend using mural design apps.

• Apps are very express, especially gratuitous versions. You'll observe yourself trying to design a space but won't have the right plant shapes or sizes to y'all.
• Apps can give you lot a false sense of reality. When yous're using an app, it's easy to squish and squeeze to make your plants fit together. This isn't what happens in real life. So, while y'all tin squish an 8 foot rounded shrub into a 4 foot pyramidal shaped shrub in an app, this won't translate to reality.
• Apps are a time suck. As if drawing a garden plan isn't challenging enough, you're likewise adding the extra complication of having to learn a new figurer program. This can exist a total time suck. Hours can get by and you'll nevertheless be trying to find the "perfect plants" to place in your landscape. Which leads me to my next indicate…
• The plants won't be suited for your conditions. Particularly when using a free version, you'll accept a very limited choice of plants. And, depending on where yous live, the plants you're choosing may not even abound in your geographical surface area. To top it off, they may be suited for weather that you don't have.
• Apps but show a moment in time. Considering of the nature of drawing a garden plan, whatever app that you use will only bear witness your garden at one point in fourth dimension. Then, all of your shrubs volition look similar they are flowering in the photograph. But, what do these plants look like in spring, summer, fall and winter? If you are choosing plants that bloom in different seasons (which you should exist), you lot're going to go a false sense of what your garden will actually expect like from any design in an app.

Now that you know why you shouldn't employ an app, let's talk about what you should be using instead.

Tracing Paper Over a Photo

Tracing paper over a photo is my preferred method for brainstorming garden bed layout ideas.

Using tracing paper over an actual photograph of your infinite is a great way to become started drawing a killer garden plan. When cartoon in tiptop view, you'll desire to cull the photo you took in stride one that's a straight on view of your garden bed. This view will make information technology easiest to draw your plan.

And then, print out the photo you snapped earlier. Then, use tracing paper over the photo to draw out different garden plans. I love using tracing paper because information technology gives yous the liberty to explore many unlike ideas quickly.

Hither are some tracing paper options y'all tin can endeavor:

• Strathmore Tracing paper pad 50-count (Buy on Amazon). This is a nice, convenient way to purchase your tracing newspaper. It comes in a pad with sheets y'all tin can tear out.
• Canson Tracing paper scroll 12"x50yds (Buy on Amazon). My instructors take e'er encouraged me to purchase rolls of tracing paper that tin can be torn off quickly. Sometimes, using a pad can make you more conservative when using the tracing paper and a roll of paper can be more than freeing for the creative process.

Draw out your shapes on the tracing paper over your photograph. Then catch another piece of paper and endeavor again. I've e'er plant that this iterative process works best for coming up with new ideas. Sometimes, my best drawings are 5 or even 10 versions in. Then, e'er continue drawing and trying to recollect of new ideas.

Bonus Tip: If y'all're having trouble seeing your photograph through the tracing paper, turning the photograph into a "cartoon" or line drawing using a telephone app tin assist. Or, print out your photograph and darken the major lines of your photograph with a sharpie and then they are easier to meet through the trace newspaper.

Tracing Paper Over Graph Newspaper

If y'all don't have a photo, using tracing paper over a garden bed plotted on graph paper is some other way to sketch ideas.

If you don't want to or tin't work from an actual photo, you can too depict out your infinite on graph newspaper using the measurements you took in step 1. I like to use ane block on the graph newspaper for 1 foot of garden space. Or, whatever ratio works best for you.

Once you're finished with your base of operations sketch, it'due south a good idea to "ink in" your pencil lines with a pen. Information technology volition aid y'all to see the drawing more clearly through the tracing paper. It tin as well make your drawing experience more official.

Make sure you lot don't draw on this "finalized" copy from now on. Brand photocopy of your official base of operations plan and depict your garden plan ideas straight onto the copies. Or, put tracing paper over the finalized base plan to iterate your ideas apace.

Plant Form Cutouts

If you are totally not into drawing your garden plan by hand, don't worry, I take another solution for you. Catch my costless printable establish form guide and yous can use my drawings.

Just print out a photo of your garden bed, then cutting out the plant form shapes and movement them around on the folio. It's a really fun manner to experiment with different garden bed layouts.

Colored Pencils or Markers

Employ colored pencils or markers to color in your drawing. I dear the alcohol markers by Prismacolor. Illustration by Pretty Purple Door.

Lastly, you lot'll desire to accept some colored pencils or markers available so you can add color to your drawing. Adding colour to your drawings can really assist you to visualize the space.

Many landscape designers use alcohol markers by Prismacolor or Copic to color in their drawings. Some designers even employ watercolor paints to colour in their drawings.

Just, you lot don't need to get that fancy. A uncomplicated fix of colored pencils, markers or even crayons will be fine. I'd recommend using what you accept on hand. Merely, if yous're looking to buy a new set or pencils or markers, hither are some I'd recommend.

• Prismacolor colored pencils, 36-count (Buy on Amazon)
• Windsor & Newton promarkers, 12-count (Buy on Amazon). This is a squeamish simple set up with many of the colors yous'll need for drawing landscapes.
• Prismacolor markers, 24-count (Purchase on Amazon). Y'all can too buy these markers individually online or in a hobby shop. Sometimes this can exist a more price-effective selection to get the colors you really need for garden plants.
• MeiLiang Watercolor paint ready, 36-count (Purchase on Amazon). I also have this watercolor set and I really similar how vibrant the colors are.

4- Draw Unproblematic Shapes & Forms

Nosotros are finally at the drawing pace! I hope you're equally excited as I am to become started! The easiest way I've learned to depict plants is to proceed it simple.

All plants tin be reduced to a simple grade, such as mounding, rounded, vase-shaped, horizontal, spikey, weeping, oval, pyramidal and more. Illustration by PrettyPurpleDoor.

Every plant has a basic form or shape. Some mutual shapes and forms are:

• Mounding
• Rounded
• Vase-Shaped
• Horizontal or Spreading
• Spikey
• Weeping
• Oval
• Pyramidal (& more)

What's dandy about using simple forms is that you lot don't take to exist a professional artist to draw them!

I similar to depict very messy in the beginning. If I like the drawing, I'll utilise another piece of tracing newspaper to refine my basic establish forms even further. I keep to do this until I'm happy with the final drawing.

Phases of my garden drawings using tracing paper over a printed photo. Illustration past Pretty Regal Door.

Recollect that it doesn't matter how "fancy" your cartoon looks. As long as it'south clear and easy to understand, you are on the right track.

Here's another example, where I've sketched bones plant forms on tracing paper placed over my graph paper. Notice how I tried to utilize different plant forms to keep the pattern interesting? I started to add the names of plants I think would work in this design… but if you're not sure what plants to employ all the same, that's totally fine, too. I'll show you lot how to practice this in Stride 5. Illustration by Pretty Imperial Door.

But in case you're dreading this "sketching" part, I've put together a free printable establish form worksheet that you can use. I've fatigued all the institute forms for you and provide yous with a variety of different sizes to choose from.

All you take to do is print out the plant forms and colour them in to suit your needs. You lot tin cut around each of the plant forms and rearrange them to see how they will look against the photograph you took in footstep 1. How piece of cake and fun is that?

Here, all of my institute forms are cut out and I'thousand ready to start having fun arranging the different plants along the foundation. Grab the free printable here.

Whether you're drawing out your simple forms by paw or using the free download, here are some tips to make sure that y'all're on the right track:

• Even flowers can accept a unique grade and structure that adds involvement to a pattern. Like alliums, for example.
• Using a multifariousness of plant forms creates interest.
• Echo the same plant forms to create unity in your pattern.
• Focus on the bones forms that fit into your surround, rather than specific plants.

Plant forms aren't just for shrubs and perennials. Fifty-fifty flowers can accept a unique form and construction, like these alliums in the cartoon. Illustration by Pretty Royal Door.

However Stuck? Attempt using the Blocking Method. Beneath is a curt video for how this method works.

Here'due south a quick overview of the blocking method. You tin can read more about it here.

five- Option Your Plants Terminal

Have you noticed that throughout the entire process of drawing a killer garden plan, we haven't even thought much about plants?

So foreign, isn't it?

But, choosing the correct plants for your garden space, while information technology'south of import, it's usually i of the last steps. Blueprint and planning always comes get-go.

Although I'grand drawing simple shapes and forms in my plans, I ofttimes have some idea of what plants I want to use in a given design. But, I don't force plants into my designs, if that makes sense.

Even if yous have no clue what plants to employ, that'due south ok. Once y'all've created a garden plan with plant forms that you similar, you can then inquiry plants that are a like size and shape to what you drew.

Websites like Garden.org let you to enquiry plants by all different characteristics that will suit your growing conditions and tastes.

Luckily, in that location are so many plant options available to usa in every dissimilar shape and size. Y'all'll have plenty of plants to choose from, so don't worry near choosing your plants until the end. Get the garden plan drawing worked out first!

Wrapping Up

Now that yous're privy to my tiptop 5 tips for cartoon a killer garden program, you can skip the stress of staring anxiously at a bare page and really enjoy the incredibly fun and creative process of designing your dream garden!

First, have measurements and get to know the space where you plan to put your garden. Look at the area from different angles and snap some photos of different views.

At present, sit downward with some printer/bond paper or graph paper and use tracing paper to come with different ideas. I usually accept some plants in heed during this process, merely I don't try to force anything. Simply draw uncomplicated shapes like rounded, oval, pyramidal and spreading. Try to contrast the sizes and shapes of your plants to go far interesting. If cartoon feels too difficult for you, catch my printable institute class worksheet so you tin can but cut out the plant shapes and move them around the page.

Once you have the basic shapes mapped out, you tin can and so choose your plants. Make sure to research all of the plants y'all program. Utilise a website with lots of filters and advanced searching like garden.org. Cull plants that will thrive in the conditions that y'all have vs. what you wish yous had. And, try to choose a variety of long-blooming perennials or plants that create involvement at different times of the year.

If you're looking for more than assistance in designing your dream garden, be sure to cheque out my Pattern Your 4-Season Garden Course, where I'll take you stride-by-step through my own process for creating the 4-flavour garden programme of your dreams.

---

Store my Amazon storefront for my essential gardening books & tool recommendations!

• Gardening Tools
• Gardening Books
• H2o & Soil
• Fertilizers & Weed Prevention

More than Garden Design Posts You'll Love

• 

  5 Tips for Cartoon a Killer Garden Plan, Even if You're Non a Designer

  These five steps will take y'all through the process of cartoon a simple garden plan for your home mural. Learn my simple process for drawing your own garden plan that'south uniquely you lot.

• 

  This Blocking Method Will Have You Drawing Pro Garden Plans in No Time

  If yous're struggling to accommodate plants, try the blocking method. This is a mode to draw your garden plans using a serial of shapes and repeating patterns. It's really fun, too!

• 

  5 Things I Wish I Knew Virtually Garden Design (These Would Have Saved Me $$$ Thousands)

  Ever wonder what no ane is telling yous nearly designing your dream landscape? These garden pattern tips would take saved me so much time, money and sanity. And, I'm spilling all the secrets!

Don't forget to pin this post for later. Illustrations by Pretty Imperial Door.

burleythenswithe1969.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.prettypurpledoor.com/garden-drawing/

Share this post