Can I use this for plants I have not bought yet?

Yes. Screenshot plant images from nursery websites or gardening catalogs and use them the same way as original photos.

How do I account for mature plant size?

Scale cutouts up from their nursery pot size to approximate their mature spread. Use the label information or a quick search for typical mature dimensions.

Can I plan for multiple seasons in one bed?

Yes. Build separate boards for spring, summer, and fall to make sure you have interest in every season, then combine what works.

Does this work for vegetable and herb gardens too?

Yes. The same approach works for planning vegetable patches, herb beds, or kitchen gardens.

Can I share the plan with a landscaper?

Yes. Export the canvas as a PNG and share it as a visual brief. It is far clearer than trying to describe the composition verbally.

Plan Your Garden Bed with Photos of the Actual Plants

Photograph plants, shrubs, and flowers at the nursery or in your existing garden. Strip backgrounds and arrange them on a photo of your yard to see the composition before you plant a single thing.

Why people use it

Preview how plant heights and spreads work together in the actual bed space
Test color combinations using photos of real plants before buying
Avoid costly mistakes from plants that look good individually but clash together
Plan seasonal succession by visualizing spring, summer, and fall plants in the same bed
Share the planting plan with a nursery or garden contractor for accurate advice

How it works

Photograph plants at the nursery or in your garden: Take photos of plants you are considering against a clear background. Garden center display plants often have clean backgrounds already.
Remove backgrounds automatically: Upload to Canvi and each plant is isolated cleanly, ready to place in the bed composition.
Upload your bed photo: Take a photo of your planting bed area from a slightly elevated angle and use it as the canvas background.
Compose and adjust: Place plants in the bed, scale them to approximate their mature size, and adjust until the composition feels balanced and intentional.

Use cases

Mixed perennial border planning: Arrange tall background plants, mid-layer perennials, and ground cover plants in layers to preview the full border composition.
Color-themed bed design: Test specific color palettes by placing only plants with complementary or contrasting bloom colors in the same bed space.
Nursery shopping shortlist: Build a visual shortlist of candidate plants on your bed photo before heading to the nursery, so you know exactly what you are looking for.
Replanting an existing bed: Visualize how new plants will fill in around existing shrubs or perennials before adding anything new.

Tips

Photograph plants at their current nursery size but scale them up on the canvas to reflect mature height and spread
Group plants in odd numbers, threes and fives, for a more natural look than pairs or evenly spaced rows
Consider bloom time when composing: make sure something is always in flower across spring, summer, and fall
Leave more space than you think you need between plants: most beginners underestimate mature spread
Export and take the planting plan image to the nursery for a clearer conversation with staff

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this for plants I have not bought yet?: Yes. Screenshot plant images from nursery websites or gardening catalogs and use them the same way as original photos.
How do I account for mature plant size?: Scale cutouts up from their nursery pot size to approximate their mature spread. Use the label information or a quick search for typical mature dimensions.
Can I plan for multiple seasons in one bed?: Yes. Build separate boards for spring, summer, and fall to make sure you have interest in every season, then combine what works.
Does this work for vegetable and herb gardens too?: Yes. The same approach works for planning vegetable patches, herb beds, or kitchen gardens.
Can I share the plan with a landscaper?: Yes. Export the canvas as a PNG and share it as a visual brief. It is far clearer than trying to describe the composition verbally.