I’m looking for some kind of program or web site that I could use to map out my little orchard. I’d like to find something between MS Paint (too limited) and Arcinfo (now ArcGIS) (too expensive and complicated). Surely there is some kind of landscape architecture or farming layout software, but I haven’t found any. Even if I can do is just show where my trees, grapes, blueberries, etc are all located and label them what they are- or perhaps put a number by each location and create a corresponding key and detailed description of each tree, its history, etc. It would be nice to be able to create a “map” of my property and do it to scale to help with planning, spacing, layout, design, etc. I’ve been using old fashioned graph paper for this but I suspect some of you have a much better way to show your orchards and/or farms digitally. Of course some kind of free/public domain software would be best, but I’m willing to buy something if it meets my needs. If someone can help me identify such software, I’m willing to bet a lot of people on here would benefit from that answer. It would also be very helpful for GARDENS. Thanks!
I would think most Cad software would let you do this. Might want to try Google Sketchup which is free.
City. See this orchard mapping thread. Orchard Mapping
One member mentioned software called inkscape which might work. HE included his layout which looked quite nice.
I don’t know how I missed my question the FIRST time it was asked! That thread was very helpful.
HOWEVER, I found a GREAT piece of software that does exactly what I was looking for and I really think some of you might benefit from it as well. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first- if you like it you have to pay $34 to keep it. But it does come with a 2 week free trial for you to decide if its worthwhile. So far, I think it is to me.
Its quite simple and intuitive and does everything I wanted. Its laid out on a grid just like the graft paper that I and some others have been using. Then you can select from many, many plants and trees and drag and drop them onto the grad where they are on your property. There are different symbols for different trees. You can also put in sprinkler systems, buildings, walkways, fountains, and much more. THen as you move trees or add trees or other things, you simply click and drag to new location. Finally, you can attach either the names of trees in small print OR put a number or letter on each tree and do a corresponding spreadsheet where you keep detailed records for each tree or plant and reference it to the letter on the map you have designed.
Its not perfect and very well may not meet many of your needs, but it fits what I was looking for pretty well. The $34 is something none of us will be happy about, but since you get to try it first that helps make the decision of whether to spend that much, and for today’s software that isn’t very much really.
Anyway, hopefully someone else here will be able to benefit from this. Its a shame that this software is so poorly marketed that almost no one seems to know about it, because I think its pretty good for a non technical person like me.
City- It would help if you listed the name of the software 
Wow…that would be helpful wouldn’t it! Sorry!
Its called Garden Planner and the newest one is version 3. They have a strange web site name but here is a link to their site:
Here is another software. I used it for a while and found it easy enough. There is free trial for 30 days and 25$ annual fee after that.
Same software, I think. But the price has gone up to $34 and the trial period down to 14 days with the new version (3.0). Glad to know it worked for you.
I also used the regular MS Excel Software to make the plot. It is actually quite fun.
Just make the cells equal in lenght and width. One cell will represent 1 cubic feet, or as much as you want. Use different shapes to represent the different parts of the garden, trees, flowerbeds, etc. Color and fill them, and make the notes inside the shape. I also took pictures from internet and pasted them inside the shape so I had a sign with a cherry tree on it for example. It is more work then using a specialized software, but it is free for me since I have Excel anyway.
Maria. Great idea with adding the picture. With only about 30 trees I’m considering tweaking it a little and adding an actual picture of each of my trees. Bill
I love that idea very, very much. I’m the world’s biggest fan of excel and have used it for 25 years, so I should have thought of this!!!