Quick Start Guide

Welcome to Garden Sketchbook!

Garden Sketchbook is an intuitive garden design tool that lets you plan your garden in 2D and instantly see it come to life in 3D. Whether you're a beginner gardener or an experienced landscape designer, this guide will help you get started quickly.

Getting Started

1. Access Garden Sketchbook

Garden Sketchbook runs entirely in your web browser - no downloads or installations required. Simply navigate to the application in your browser to get started.

2. Create Your First Garden

Click the "Add Garden" button to create your first garden design. Give your garden a descriptive name like "Front Yard Design" or "Backyard Garden Plan".

3. Choose Your Settings

New gardens use imperial measurement units (feet/inches) and USDA hardiness zones by default. If you prefer metric units or the Canadian zone system, visit your profile page to update your preferences.

Understanding the Interface

Main Layout

Garden Sketchbook uses a split-pane design with three main areas:

• Left Panel: Plant library with search and filtering options
• Top Right: 2D planning canvas where you design your garden layout
• Bottom Right: 3D visualization showing your garden in realistic view
• Bottom Bar: Seasonal navigation to see your garden through the year

Your First Plant

Step 1: Browse the Plant Library

In the left panel, you'll find hundreds of plants to choose from. Use the search box to find specific plants, or apply filters to find plants by type, growing conditions, bloom time/color, or size.

Step 2: Select a Plant

Click on any plant in the library to select it. Selected plants are highlighted and ready to add to your garden plan. To see more details about the plant's characteristics and growing requirements, click the question mark icon next to the plant name.

Step 3: Place Your Plant

With a plant selected, click the plus button in the 2D plan view toolbar to enter add mode. Then click anywhere on the 2D canvas to place it. You'll see a preview circle showing the plant's mature size as you move your cursor. The plant will appear instantly in both the 2D plan and 3D visualization.

Essential Features

Moving Plants

Switch to Select Mode (or press 'S') to move plants around. Click and drag any plant to reposition it. Changes appear instantly in both 2D and 3D views.

Multiple Plant Selection

Click and drag to create a selection rectangle around multiple plants. Selected plants can be moved together as a group, copied, or deleted.

Seasonal Preview

Use the season selector at the bottom to see how your garden will look throughout the year. Plants will show flowers only during their actual bloom periods, giving you a realistic view of seasonal changes.

Saving Your Work

Garden Sketchbook automatically saves your work as you go. Your garden designs are stored locally in your browser and will be there when you return. During the beta period, we recommend regularly exporting your plans as PDFs for backup.

Exporting Your Plan

Click the Export button in the 2D view toolbar to create a printable PDF of your garden plan. The export includes a scaled drawing with numbered plants and a comprehensive plant list for easy reference when shopping or planting.

Next Steps

Congratulations! You now know the basics of Garden Sketchbook. Here are some next steps to explore:

• Learn more about the interface and all available tools
• Discover the plant library and advanced filtering options
• Learn seasonal planning for year-round garden interest
• Export professional garden plans for reference and implementation

Need Help?

If you run into any issues or have questions, don't hesitate to contact us. As a beta user, your feedback helps us improve Garden Sketchbook for everyone.

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