There is considerable variation in the way landscape designers label plant symbols. A simple line can be connected to a piece of text, or a block symbol, or a leader with a variety of arrowheads can all be used. If the symbol is connected to an entry in a connecting plant database file, the SmartLabel tool in the gCADPlus drop menu can pick up and place the botanical name and code automatically.
Some tips for gCADPlus users on how to label plant symbols in landscape design drawings are set out in the figure below.
A general guide on labeling in landscape CAD designs
Here we provide some advice on correctly labeling plant symbols in landscape drawings. The suggestions here are based on a graphic by Lisa Orgler, but adapted for CAD drafting with an emphasis on landscape drafting tools in gCADPlus software.
We continue our series of movies in which we discuss the use of labels for plant symbols in landscape drawings created with gCADPlus.
The movies below survey some of the many ways landscape designers label species in their design work.
This is part one of two movies that survey many of the different ways landscape designers indicate species in landscape plans.
This is part 2 of 2 movies in which we survey many different ways landscape designers indicate species in landscape plans. The operation of the smart label tool is demonstrated. We show how to automatically stamp a code in the center of each symbol and generate a plant schedule.
Broadscale planting symbols
Here we compare the ‘standard’ technique used in gCADPlus to indicate the species with a ‘broadscale’ technique where the same symbol (from a restricted palette) is used to indicate species. Both methods allow the generation of plant schedules with a count of plants needed to implement the design.