Use the links here to download a copy of GardenCAD.
GardenCAD versions
Please note that there are two versions of GardenCAD – an Imperial version suitable for work in the USA (where you enter distances in decimal feet) and a metric version (for working in mm as the base unit of measure). The commands and method of operation in each are identical; it’s just that the symbol libraries are sized appropriately for base units (mm for metric and decimal feet for Imperial). Please make sure that you test a version suitable for the units you use when designing.
Mac users: If you want to use GardenCAD on a Mac, you will need to acquire Windows emulator software such as CrossOver, Parallels, Fusion, etc.
Metric version of GardenCAD
- Click here to download a copy of GardenCAD metric as a 7Zip file. To unpack the file and uncover the GardenCAD setup file, you will need to use 7Zip – click to download 7Zip – it is a free file compression tool, well worth installing. Use it whenever you need to send big files across the Internet.
- GardenCAD Metric ZIP as a Zip file. To unpack, use WinZip – a commercial (not free) compression tool.
- Click here to download a copy of GardenCAD metric as an exe file – some firewalls may block the download of exe files. If so, use one of the file formats above.
Imperial version of GardenCAD [for use in USA]
- Click here to download a copy of GardenCAD Imperial. as a 7zip file. To unpack the file and uncover the GardenCAD setup file, use 7Zip – click to down load 7Zip– it is free file compression tool well worth installing. Use it whenever you need to send big files across the Internet.
- GardenCAD Imperial ZIP (as a Zip file. To unpack, use WinZip – a commercial compression tool.
- Click here to download a copy of GardenCAD Imperial as an exe file – some firewalls may block exe files. If so, use one of the file formats above.
Testing GardenCAD
When GardenCAD is running, try the following:
- Use File>New and select one of our template drawings – you may possibly need to browse (once only) to set up the path to the template directory which is located in My Documents>GardenCAD.
- When a drawing is loaded, use the wheel of the mouse to zoom in and out on any part of the drawing, positioning the mouse pointer at the point in the drawing where you want to see more detail. Pan your view of the drawing by pressing and holding the wheel down while dragging the mouse. To restore a full view of the design, right-click and select Zoom Extents from the pop-up menu.
- Zoom in again on the drawing and, with the left button of the mouse, select a plant symbol. Then use the right mouse button to access many of the editing tools available. Select copy and see how easy it is to stamp many copies of the symbol into the design.
- Try inserting a new planting symbol from the library drop-down plant selector menu. If you cannot see a symbol after choosing one, right-click and select zoom extents to see the whole drawing.
- Activate tracking and try drawing a line of defined length to represent (say) a wall. Just click to start, head in the desired direction, type the distance (in mm or decimal feet) and press enter. The line will be drawn. Then ‘head off’ in another direction and repeat the process to see how easy it is to put lines into a drawing.
The GardenCAD program as it stands is fully featured but does not allow designs to be saved. On start-up, it asks for a user name and activation code. Just ignore that request and select ‘Demo’ mode to trial GardenCAD. If after evaluating the software, you want to purchase GardenCAD, visit our e-Shop page to create your user name and obtain a software (license) activation code.
Tip: Save your copy of the download to your local drive (perhaps to the desktop or C:\Temp) rather than a network or USB drive.
For more information on learning to use GardenCAD, there are also lots of movies on YouTube; just type gardencad in the YouTube search box.
Buy GardenCAD
Visit the shop page to purchase GardenCAD
GardenCAD on Macs
[You will need to install a Windows emulator such as CrossOver or install Windows on your Mac under BootCamp, Parallels, or Fusion. Note that a trial version of CrossOver for the Mac is available – please install it before installing GardenCAD.
Here is a link to some more information on the use of GardenCAD on Macs.
Windows emulators
- Boot Camp
- This application comes free with Mac’s Leopard OS. All you need to do is purchase a copy of Windows – we recommend Windows 7, start-up Boot Camp to install a Windows OS. To run the Windows OS, reboot your computer and choose Boot Camp to start up with. gCADPlus products can be installed and used from within Boot Camp
- CrossOver
- Here is a link to detailed step-by-step install instructions for installing similar software on a Mac under CrossOver.