Pool design software for landscapers

Short answer. PoolSketch is a concept design app for landscapers who need to show a pool and yard together. It has templates for decks, plants and furniture, one tap auto landscaping, grading and irrigation plan symbols, a scaled plan sheet and DXF export. It makes discussion sketches, not construction drawings.

Can a landscaper use PoolSketch for a backyard design?

Yes. PoolSketch is a concept design app for pool and yard work in one plan. It has original templates drawn to real size: pools, spas, features, decks, yard pieces, plants and furniture. Pieces stretch without losing their shape, and you can draw any outline freehand. See the template library for what is included.

While you drag, you see live size and live distances to the house, fence and property line. A piece that touches a no-build zone such as an easement is flagged in red and labelled in words. Setback distances are entered per job, so PoolSketch never assumes your city's rules.

How does one tap auto-landscaping work?

Auto-landscaping fills the yard in one tap. You pick from seven styles and ten planting packs, and every piece stays editable. The planting keeps plants clear of the pool, the house, gates and easements.

Plants come from a library of more than a hundred plant templates, starting with Texas and Gulf Coast species, then Mediterranean, desert and tropical. You can also describe the yard in words and get a full editable design in about 3 seconds as a new Option. That uses 1 AI credit, refunded if it fails.

Does it cover grading, irrigation and plan sheets?

PoolSketch includes grading and irrigation plan symbols with a legend: spot elevation, grade arrow, drain line, irrigation zone, spray and rotor heads, drip line, valve box and controller. These are plan symbols only. They are not drawn in 3D, and the app does not design irrigation hydraulics.

The plan prints at a true architectural scale, 1/16 to 1/4 in = 1 ft or 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, on Letter, Tabloid, A4 or A3, with a scale bar, north arrow, dimension strings, legend and title block. It is marked as a concept plan, not for construction unless reviewed. Draw a cut line to get a dimensioned cross section as a PDF page, PNG or DXF. Export the plan as a layered DXF. More detail sits on the features page.

What PoolSketch does not do

PoolSketch is not full landscape CAD. It does not design irrigation hydraulics, does not price jobs and does not produce engineered, permit or construction documents. Plans and sections are concept drawings for coordination. It does not read DWG or SketchUp (SKP) files directly and does not know local building codes.

If you need those things, other categories of software cover them: full landscape CAD drafting suites, irrigation hydraulic design tools, estimating and pricing platforms, and office and business management suites. PoolSketch sits before that work, as the fast sketch you show a customer. The suite comparison guide explains where it fits.

How do you share the design with a customer?

Every customer copy says: Concept sketch for discussion. Not a construction drawing. You get a branded PDF handout with your logo, business name, phone, customer name, plan and 3D picture, plus Option A and Option B. A crew layout sheet carries takeoffs: surface area, perimeter, average depth, volume in gallons, coping and tile in linear feet, interior and deck in square feet, and rough excavation in cubic yards.

Client share links open a live 3D view, expire after 60 days and can be revoked. The app interface is available in 21 languages, including right-to-left Arabic and Hebrew. Translations other than English are machine translated and still being reviewed.

What does it cost and how do you start?

Core is $35 a month, Pro is $79 a month and Team is $179 a month. There is a 14 day free trial, and no card is needed for Core. It works on any mobile device and installs from the web. PoolSketch is made by Tegminestar. See pricing for the plan details.

Start from a blank gridded yard, or import the survey from the camera, a photo or a PDF, straighten it by its four corners, set the scale from one known length and check it against a second. Then trace the house, fence, property line and no-build zones.

Try it on your own yard, free for 14 days

Common questions

Is PoolSketch a replacement for landscape CAD?

No. It is a concept design app for pool and yard sketches. It does not produce construction or permit drawings, and it does not design irrigation hydraulics.

Can it keep plants away from the pool and setbacks?

Yes. Auto-landscaping keeps plants clear of the pool, house, gates and easements. Setback distances are entered per job, and a piece that touches a no-build zone is flagged in red.

Does PoolSketch price the job?

No. It gives quantities only, such as surface area, volume, coping length and deck area. It does not price jobs.

Can I export the plan to CAD?

Yes. You can export the plan as a layered DXF. You can also import a DXF drawing as a scaled underlay. DWG and SketchUp files must be converted first.