My Garden

Garden design software

Last post 28-08-2009 4:48 PM by spade monkey. 44 replies.

• 01/08/2008 10:43 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact yes I've used crocus, but at over 3500 plants and over 9000 images i don't think the database of complete gardens is limited as some of the poor versions of plant databases, plus it puts you in touch with the online site. digger

• 02/08/2008 02:09 AM

  In reply to

  NeilB Location: Oxford Joined on: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

  Reply | Contact Thank you for your kind comments about the Complete Gardens CD-ROM. I'm the Producer and Photographer of the CD-ROM. The idea of making an interactive plant database with images and planting advice came to me when I was working on the BBC David Attenbourough's 'The Private Life of Plants' series. I did quite a few of the time lapse sequences and therefore had to learn alot about growing plants so that I could film them growing and reveal their fascinating strategies of growing, attracting insects to pollinate the flowers or methods of seed dispersal etc. When the sequence was finished I wanted to plant some of the plants in my garden but I wasn't sure what conditions they liked or how or when to prune them. All this information is in books and the internet but it can take ages to find the inforation you want, so I thought it would be useful to have the information on a CD-ROM where I can make my visual plants lists, add notes and print with images. It's a simple idea and we're delighted that people find the CD-ROMs useful. I've thought what can a computer and CD-ROM do that a book can't? Firstly a CD-ROM you can interact with by selcting any combination of colours, soil type, month / season, aspect , height or name and the CD selects the best to suit your search request. You can make plant lists, add notes and print the information with images. Garden Designers and students find this useful for keeping records for their various clients. I use it to record where I've plantd my plants and be reminded when and how to prune them, especially my clematis as therte are 4 different techniques and as I don't like labels on my plants I can record which ones are planted where. The RHS sell the Complete Gardens 3,500 plant advice CD-ROM with 9,000 photographs online and also in the RHS Wisley shop.   Our plant advice is aimed at the British gardener and climate. However, we have had customers buy the CD's as far north as Norway and as far south as New Zealand, west in the US and east to Russia BUT we do let people know that this is a British plant database so not all the plants, pests and flowering times will be relevant to them so to have a look at the web site for more information. www.complete-gardens.co.uk There are many parts of Europe where the CD will be useful but obviously not every plant is covered on the CD and if you live up a mountain in Austria I don't think the CD will be much use to you. I think that there are about 73,000 plants and no book covers them all and nor does our CD database. The Complete Gardens CD-ROMs are both PC windows and MAC OS compatible. I'm here to answer any questions you have. Send me an email neil@complete-gardens.co.uk I'll be delighted to tell you more. Chris Beardshaw described our CD-ROM 'The next best thing to having your own private gardener'

• 04/08/2008 07:27 PM

  In reply to

  happygolucky Location: Joined on: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact  I have had the Cd rom for a few days and I have spent a good deal of time looking through it, it has so much information and I have only gotten half way through it.  There is an awful lot for me as a novice to learn and this cd will help me immensely, the only problem is that my list of plants that I want is getting much longer than my arms.   Thank you so much for this recommendation Digger and to all who have replied.

• 05/08/2008 09:46 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743

  Reply | Contact Hi Happygolucky, it's my pleasure to pass on useful information and i noticed that the chap who did all the software has posted,offering his contact details for anyone who has questions. Now how many companies do you know where the ceo is available to give help and advice? although the software is very modern it seems the company has good old fashioned values. I use the cd rom at least a couple of times a week, and it's dead easy to get used to it,and yes my wants list increased dramatically once I had the information about the plants on there, it's as easy to use as reading a book. digger

• 06/08/2008 01:18 AM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	Reply | Contact whey hey! what great responses to what is obviously a fantastic product - yet to be explored by me - I find it very reassuring that 'the man' himself has added to our discussion

• 06/08/2008 11:24 AM

  In reply to

  NeilB Location: Oxford Joined on: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

  Reply | Contact Dear Susiq I'm obviously very pleased that some people find our British interactive plant database useful and also think it's important to offer backup so that customers can speak to me if they have any CD-ROM problems or questions. I'm not a computer wizz and I find it infuriating if I have a problem with some software that I can't speak to someone to get a simple answer, hence I'm here to help my customers if needed.  Fortunately I don't get very many calls and  for the few wanting advice, it's great when they go off happy knowing what to do. This might lead to word of mouth recomendations which I don't think my competitors enjoy who import software from abroad. If you or others on this forum want to explore the CD-ROM do drop me an email and we'll see what we can do regarding a discount. Best wishes neil

• 06/08/2008 01:41 PM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	Reply | Contact Thank you very much NeilB, I've sent you a PM.

• 06/08/2008 06:35 PM	In reply to
  Anemone Location: County Down, Northern Ireland Joined on: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 575	Reply | Contact Me too Thanks Anemone

• 06/08/2008 09:21 PM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact You won't be disappointed girls  sue1002

• 07/08/2008 01:06 AM

  In reply to

  NeilB Location: Oxford Joined on: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

  Reply | Contact Thank you again Sue. The post is titles garden design software. However, my CD-ROM isn't a garden design tool, rather an interactive plant database with images and advice to help people find plants to suit their garden conditions and seasonal requirements. With the simple knowledge of knowing which plants will and which plants won't suit their conditions, which like shade or full sune, moist or dry soil etc. means that anyone will be able to plan a garden with seasonal colour and interest using the right plants. The planting and pruning advice is a guide to how to look after the plants. All this information can be found in books but the nice thing about the CD is the computer does the searching for you and finds the right plants within seconds plus you can add notes and print them with images and you can keep a record of your plants and the CD will remind you when your plants need pruning. There are about 73,000 plants available so naturally the 3,500 plants on the CD-ROM does not cover every variety though we hope that most Genus are covered. In reply to a version for Australia. Everthing is possible one day. I've learned that it's not only making the plant database that's involved, the other part is marketing the product and so Australia is not my next target. I would however love to make a version on vegetables.

• 08/08/2008 01:16 PM

  In reply to

  NeilB Location: Oxford Joined on: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 12

  Reply | Contact Discount for RHS Forum members. I'm not sure if I've replied to all PM on this post, so my appologies if I've not replied to you.  The enquiries have been about the discount offer for those interested in the Complete Garden plant advice CD-ROM. I'm offering £10.00 off any of the Tiltes http://www.complete-gardens.co.uk/shop/shop-gardening-category.php?id=54 However, I would suggested the ones of interest are the 2,700 plant version (7,200 photographs) with Chris Beardshaw on the cover quoting "This CD-ROM is the next best thing to having your own gardener" The 3,500 plant version (9,000 photographs) or the Multi list 3,500 plant version (9,000 photographs). This offer is only available to RHS The Garden Forum members, so you'll need to call me on 01865 512561 so that I can take your order details. I send the package by first class post and the package fits through a regular letter box, so there's not need to wait in for delivery. or you can send me an email neil@complete-gardens.co.uk Best wishes Neil

• 08/08/2008 05:55 PM	In reply to
  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104	Reply | Contact Can I just add, that I ordered my copy this week from NeilB in the afternoon, and it arrived the very next morning - excellent service, AND he was very helpful on the telephone! So anyone interested, get dialling

• 08/08/2008 07:15 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 4,743	Reply | Contact yes I found that the customer service is second to none, the photography is stunning it's a really well put together "bible" digger

• 02/01/2009 12:21 PM	In reply to
  Lucy Location: London Joined on: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Try Shoot too (www.shootgardening.co.uk) _ it was nominated for best website by the garden media guild last year and has an online planning tool. Here is one members' garden Georgie - you can see her design online. http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/siteGarden.php?garden_profileid=821

• 21/01/2009 12:56 PM	In reply to
  Headford Gardens Location: Somerset Joined on: 21 Jan 2009 Posts: 7	Reply | Contact Hi Neil  Do you have an on-line demo of the database?