Garden design software
Last post 28-08-2009 4:48 PM by spade monkey. 44 replies.
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17/07/2008 08:56 PM
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Does anybody here know of any good tried and tested reasonably priced software that is suitable for home gardeners? I have not been gardening for very long and I would like to see what sort of plants will go in different parts of the garden as I have lost so many plants that have been brought on impulse and many plants do not have instructions on where to put them or how to look after them, it could be my fault a bit as I have got most of them from car boot sales and market stalls.
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17/07/2008 10:01 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Hi happygolucky, Welcome to the forum my friend. It is a shame to lose plants when you just need a little help with where they should be planted etc. There is a piece of software on a cd rom that will give all the information that you need and more besides. Visit this site www.complete-gardens.co.uk the website will tell you all about the software, and if you have any questions or queries about the software or gardening in general there is a link on the page to a discussion forum.
I think the Chap behind the software is a film camera man who works with people like David Attenborough, and you can actually get in touch with him on the forum! the software is dead easy to use (after all I use it ) and it's just like an encylopedia of gardening knowledge, anyway give the site a visit and let us know what you think.
digger 
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17/07/2008 10:18 PM
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Thank you for your quick reply, I will have a look at that site.
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24/07/2008 08:18 PM
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I have spent some time looking around and I have settled on the double pack with the cd rom and card that can be used in my mobile, it will be very useful for me when I am buying new plants. I see it has had very good reviews and is an award winner and wanted to thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I like your nickname, did you choose it because you do a lot of digging?
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25/07/2008 11:18 AM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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5,200
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You've made a good choice there happygolucky, I have the same CD-Rom and use it to store records of most of the plants in my garden. The mobile card came out after I got mine but my mobile is a simple one and doesn't have a card slot. Ah yes, digger does a lot of digging but not necessarily just in the garden
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25/07/2008 02:03 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Hi, yes happygo lucky you have made a good purchase, I got the cd rom whilst i was at the Chelsea flower show, it is a goldmine of information and the photgraphs are stunning really well put together piece of kit, and it's dead easy to use, I would like the mobile card version as well so when I am out and about at gardens or garden centres the information is readily available.
I don't think it is intended to replace books but it is a good compliment to them, once you've put all your plants into the database it tells you when they need pruning/training and how to do it etc.. I would recommend the cd rom to everyone, it a good purchase.As for the nickname sue1002, is quite right
digger
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25/07/2008 05:12 PM
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- Susiq
- Northumberland
- 16 Feb 2008
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1,104
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Wow! That's brilliant - that is going on my "what I want for xmas list!"
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29/07/2008 02:57 AM
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- Petunia
- Australia
- 29 Jul 2008
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3
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That software sounds similar to one I found but it is international based. You download the plant information that is grown in the same environment where you live. So all information is based on your growing zone, soil type, sun etc.
You can download as many plants as you need and collect a plant list for your garden. It also does reminders or fertilising, pruning and general garden tasks. You can also add your plants onto the web encyclopedia to share with friends and other members.
It is only $19.95 too.
see
www.mygardenpal.com.au
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29/07/2008 06:44 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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HMMMMN the software i got at www.complete-gardens.co.uk is a massive massive plant encyclopedia and it allows you to create a plant list of each plant you have and then it will give you total care tips for each plant for each month of the year, and it includes sections about different styles of gardens and different uses of each plant it cover all the bases re pruning fruit/ornamentals and so on, it will even tell you where to get the plants from and link you to the website for up to the minute updates and additions, the mobile phone card is just like taking the encyclpedia out with you, so it can be used at garden centres or garden visits etc.. also it includes sections about insects friends and foes and the pictures/photography is stunning, obviously done by a team of the highest calibre
digger
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29/07/2008 09:47 PM
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- sue1002
- Ipswich, Suffolk
- 06 Sep 2005
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5,200
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I had a look at the link Petunia gave earlier, then read the terms and conditions but didn't bother to read any further after clause 7 on Fees.
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29/07/2008 10:13 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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Well admittedly i didn't take a look but now I( have and I have to say that I think i made the right choice getting the complete gardens cd rom, the one I've just sen looks a little well amateur? maybe thats just me but it just doesn't seem to be as proffesional as the one i've got.
digger
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30/07/2008 12:33 PM
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- Petunia
- Australia
- 29 Jul 2008
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3
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I must have missed that bit in the terms. I will email them and ask them because I've owned the software for 4 months and haven't been charged anything else and can still log on to the web. At the time they advertised free access to all the web information.
And you're right it doesn't have the professional one size fits all to gardening, but a collection of information from everyone that wants to share their individual plant growing success in their particular environment. That is how it can be used around the world not just the UK conditions. It's about sharing not selling information.
I find out the information and learn along the way while gardening. I think it is about growing your own knowledge while growing a collective knowledge.
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30/07/2008 12:38 PM
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- Petunia
- Australia
- 29 Jul 2008
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3
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It does sound great and have really thought of everything.
So are they going to do this for other countries or make a international copy?
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01/08/2008 06:21 PM
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- Digger
- Northern UK
- 18 Jul 2005
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4,743
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The software should work for you in Australia but if you visit www.complete-gardens.co.uk you can actually get to e mail one of the design team or there is a phone number as well, the good thing about the software is that when you put the cd rom into your machine you can connect to the website from your cd rom and get all the updated information and use the forum, i think the mobile version is going to take off like a rocket, because it is literally full of information and it will be like taking a giant encyclopedia with you, that fits into your top pocket.
digger
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01/08/2008 10:07 PM
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- Pat Atkins
- Bidford on Avon
- 01 Aug 2008
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1
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I find that a lot of the software in the shops is of limited use as the plant databases are so small. I use the RHS site a lot to find out what conditions a plant requires. I also find the Gardeners' World web site useful. Have you tried www.crocus.co.uk? There is a lot of information on this about where the plants grow and how to look after them.
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