If you're ready to give your outdoor space an overhaul but have no idea where to begin, installing a garden design app could be a smart first step.
While there's obviously only so far an app can get you (they won't account for practical problems or actually build it), they can be invaluable for visualising where you could place things or how to recreate a specific style you've been stalking on Pinterest.
To find out what the best garden design apps are and what real landscape experts have to say about them, keep reading.
1. Spacelift
Using expertise from award-winning garden designer Matt Keightley, this AI-powered app helps you map, visualise, shop for, and build your outdoor space from end to end.
Whether you want to reimagine your current space or plan your future garden, Spacelift personalises the experience to whatever your goals are, with the option to select the maintenance level, style and budget you're after.
For £9.99 a month or £89.99 a year, you'll get to design two projects per month, 10 design edits and quick-match credits, a project action plan, and Shop the Look. The Pro version also includes discounts on furniture and accessories.
I put its quick-match feature to the test on my own garden, asking it to redesign the space in a cottage style. See the results below.
Image credit: Megan Milstead/Future
Before
Image credit: Spacelift
After
2. ChatGPT
You may have used ChatGPT for research or problem-solving, but did you know that it can also design your garden? Our Content Director, Laura Crombie, used it to help revamp her outdoor space, as pictured below.
When it comes to getting the best results possible, she recommends being as specific as possible about things such as paving colour and the type of gravel you want. "I had a clear vision in my head of what was practical and what I wanted. I'm not sure how useful it would be if you find it hard to picture things yourself. What I've got is very accurate."
However, she warns that sometimes it has a mind of its own and decides to change the whole thing when you ask for a tiny amendment, so be prepared to have a little patience with it.
While ChatGPT is free to use, you'll need to upgrade to the Pro version (starting at £7 per month) to generate more than two images per day.
Image credit: ChatGPT
Laura designed this garden using ChatGPT
Image credit: ChatGPT
I also gave ChatGPT a go in my garden
3. iScape
If you're in the early stages of designing a garden, iScape could come in handy, helping you visually plan where things could potentially go.
Simply take a photo of your garden and you'll be able to drag and drop various products, including trees, flowers and shrubs, as well as furniture, containers and hardscapes.
You can design in either 2D or 3D with AR, giving you a clear picture of what things would look like before you invest. The paid version (£29.99 per month) gives you access to more products, as well as the proposal tool, which helps you plan costs and decide what to buy. However, you can get a one-week free trial.
4. Garden AI
Upload a photo of your garden and Garden AI can transform it into any style of your choosing – from Japanese or tropical to rustic or industrial. You can also upload an inspo photo and it will redesign your space based off that.
However, if you're not in a place to start completely from scratch, this app also lets you drag and drop new furniture onto your existing space and replace objects with options in their catalogue.
While you can generate one re-design for free, you'll need to upgrade to their Pro version, costing £5.99 per week or £49.99 per year, to access all of the themes and features.
I asked for a Mediterranean-style garden idea with the addition of colourful flowers, new furniture and plants. Here's what it gave me:
Image credit: Future
Before
Image credit: Garden AI
After
Should I use a garden design app?
Garden design apps can be a brilliant starting point for homeowners unsure of what they want, but Mirela Bajic, Senior Garden Designer at House Designer, says they have their limitations.
"It doesn't know your soil. It doesn't know your garden faces north and gets two hours of sun in winter. It will happily let you put a Mediterranean gravel garden on heavy wet clay, and it will look wonderful on the screen right up until everything dies. The app designs the picture. It can't design the conditions."
When it comes to hard landscaping, such as levels, drainage and retaining walls, it's always best to call in a garden designer, as repair costs can be expensive – and tricky to undo. "I've been called in more than once to fix a garden someone built from a screen design," Mirela adds.
Mirela Bajic is a Senior Garden Designer at House Designer, with formal horticultural training including RHS Level 2 qualifications and further advanced studies in garden design and horticulture.
What are the biggest garden design app mistakes?
Garden design apps might seem like a magic quick fix, but Martin Chaplin, Head of Horticulture at Hedges Direct, says there are a few mistakes to avoid:
1. Not considering how plants grow over time: "A hedge or border that looks perfectly proportioned on screen can quickly become overcrowded if mature plant sizes and growth rates aren't factored into the design."
2. Designing around a wishlist, not your garden's natural conditions: "Before choosing any plants, consider how much sunlight the area receives, whether it's exposed to strong winds, how well the soil drains and, crucially, what type of soil you have."
3. Thinking short-term: "It's easy to focus on how the garden will look immediately after planting rather than how it will develop over the coming years. The most successful gardens have a strong evergreen framework, using hedging and structural shrubs as the backbone before layering in flowering shrubs such as hydrangeas or buddleia and perennials like lavender, salvia and verbena for seasonal colour."
Martin brings over 35 years of experience in the horticultural world, shaped by a lifelong curiosity and deep appreciation for plant diversity. He has worked alongside high-profile nurseries, growers, and specialist breeders, contributing to new plant releases and holding senior roles across retail, garden centres, and landscape supply.
While garden design apps can be incredibly helpful at visualising what sort of outdoor space to create, they should be used with caution for big projects and investments.
For more inspiration, take a look at these budget small garden ideas or browse through these garden screening ideas.
