Frequently Asked Questions

Technical FAQs

What are the PlantingPlanner system requirements?
PlantingPlanner Home Gardeners Version System Requirements:
- PC, Laptop or tablet running Windows® 11, Windows® 10, Windows® 8.1, Windows® 8 or Windows® 7.
- Screen size:
  Minimum: 1024 x 768.
  Recommended: 1280 x 1024 or greater.
PlantingPlanner Professional Version System Requirements:
- PC, Laptop or tablet running Windows® 11, Windows® 10, Windows® 8.1 or Windows® 8.
- Screen size:
  Minimum: 1024 x 768.
  Recommended: 1280 x 1024 or greater.
- Internet connection (for subscription validation at least once a month).
Can I run the PlantingPlanner on my Apple Mac?
The answer is - “yes, but…”

The Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner is a Windows® application, and has to run under Microsoft Windows® - currently there is not a macOS (previously Mac OS X) version of the program. However, it is still possible to run the PlantingPlanner as a Windows® program on a MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini or Mac Pro - below we explain how...

You can run Windows® 11 inside a window on the macOS desktop. This window is a special program called a “virtual machine”, and allows one operating system (e.g. Windows®) to run inside another operating system (e.g. macOS). The benefit of this is that you can run macOS and Windows® programs at the same time. You install the “virtual machine” software on your mac in the same way as any other macOS application - and then you install Windows® 11 within the “virtual machine”.

There are a number of these “virtualisation” applications available:
- By far the simplest and best is Parallels Desktop for Mac. This isn't free software (- and it is recommended to upgrade it every 1 or 2 years, which is a futher cost -), but it is designed to be very easy to install and use - it even automatically downloads and installs Windows® 11 for you. And it is authorized by Microsoft for running Windows® on a Mac.
  After it is installed, when you start Parallels on your Mac, Windows® 11 runs inside its window - and from there you can use our download link to install the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro.
  
  Both “Parallels Desktop for Mac” and Windows® 11 can be tried for free - Parallels offers a 2 week free trial, and Windows® 11 allows an unspecified period you can use it before you need to purchase a product key. So, if you want to try it out, you can do so for free. And the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro, of course, also has a no-commitment 30-day free trial.
  
  If you are interested, here is a short video that shows what is involved in installing Parallels and Windows: YouTube instruction video.
- There are a number of free alternative to using a commercial product like “Parallels Desktop for Mac”. Two of the leading ones are VirtualBox and UTM. These also are “virtual machine” applications, but they require quite a lot more technical knowledge to install and set up. There are many articles and YouTube videos that can help - for example this article and this video.
Can I install the PlantingPlanner on more than one computer?

Our licence is per user and allows you to install the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner software on up to 2 computers at any one time. This is the same for both the Home Gardener and Professional versions.

Installing the software in a “virtual machine” (e.g. VirtualBox, Parallels Desktop for Mac, etc) counts as one install.

If you have already installed our software on 2 computers and you now want to start using it on a different computer, you can do so by first uninstalling it from one of the computers and then installing it on the new one.

To have the software installed on more than 2 computers at the same time you must purchase additional licences.
I have replaced my old computer - how do I install the PlantingPlanner on my new computer?
If you replace your computer, you may want to re-install the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner on your new PC/laptop.

Our licence allows you to install the software on up to 2 computers at any one time - so if you already have the program installed on 2 computers, you will first need to uninstall the program from one of them.

The steps required to install the PlantingPlanner on your new computer will depend on the version you have:
- Professional Version
  
  If you have bought a Professional Version subscription, you can simply download the latest version of the program from our website and install it. You will be prompted to enter your Licence Key the first time you run the program.
- Home Gardener Version
  
  If you have the Home Gardener Version, you must copy the original downloaded “installer” (i.e. the file named “PlantingPlannerSetup.exe”) to your new computer and run it to install the PlantingPlanner. You will be asked to enter your Product Key first time you run the PlantingPlanner on the new computer.
  
  When you originally bought the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner, you will have been sent an email containing your Product Key and a link to download the “installer” (i.e. the “PlantingPlannerSetup.exe” file). It is important to keep these safe so that they are available if you want to re-install the PlantingPlanner. We recommend you back-up the downloaded “PlantingPlannerSetup.exe” file by copying it to a USB memory stick or to a cloud service (e.g. Dropbox). This then makes it easy to copy and install on a new computer.
The “Choose a Plant” dialog is too large and doesn't fit on my screen
The “Choose a Plant” dialog pops up when you substitute one plant for another in your plan. It is also shown in the Home Gardener Version of the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner when the user places a plant on the “Positioned Plants” screen.

Occasionally people have a problem with the Choose a Plant dialog appearing to be too large to fit on their computer's screen. They can select a plant from one of the plant lists, or create a “User Plant”, but there doesn't appear to be any buttons to complete the operation and close the dialog window. And this is because the buttons (i.e. Select plant or Create plant) are hidden below the bottom of the screen.

Very few laptops or PCs have a screen resolution less than the PlantingPlanner’s minimum requirements of 1024 x 768, so the problem is usually due to one of two things:
1. Either your computer has its screen set to less than its optimum resolution. To check your screen resolution, and correct it if necessary, please follow these steps:
  
  Right click somewhere on the Desktop (i.e. on the screen background)
  
  Select “Display settings” (on Windows 10) or “Screen resolution” (on Windows 7) from the drop-down menu
  
  In the popup window find the “Resolution” drop-down box, and ensure the “Recommended” setting is chosen (which is usually the highest values)
  
  You may be asked to logout of Windows and then back in again for the change of settings to take effect.
2. If screen resolution is not the problem, the other possible cause is that the “system” font size has been set larger than the standard size – thereby making the dialog text appear big, and hence making the dialog larger than normal. If this is the case, the “system” font can be easily changed to a smaller size – and if you prefer using a large font size, it can quickly be changed back again when you have finished running the PlantingPlanner. The steps are similar to those above:
  
  On Windows 10:
  
  Right click somewhere on the Desktop (i.e. on the screen background)
  
  Select “Screen resolution” from the drop-down menu
  
  In the popup window find the “Change the size of text, apps, and other items” drop-down box, and ensure the “100%” setting is chosen
  
  You may be asked to logout of Windows and then back in again for the change of settings to take effect.
  
  On Windows 7 & 8:
  
  Right click somewhere on the Desktop (i.e. on the screen background)
  
  Select “Personalize” from the drop-down menu
  
  In the popup box click on the “Display Settings” link (in some version of Windows this is shown as simple “Display”)
  
  If your laptop is running Windows 8 you need to tick the check-box “Let me choose one scaling level for all my displays”
  
  Ensure the “default” font size is selected (typically the “small” or “smaller” size)
  
  You may be asked to logout of Windows and then back in again for the change of settings to take effect.

Online Shopping FAQs

How safe is it to shop online at www.plantingplanner.com?

Secure Online Shopping

We use FastSpring to handle our ecommerce transactions and downloads.

FastSpring is a leading ecommerce company specialising in digital downloads, based in California and Amsterdam. Thousands of companies use FastSpring to sell their software and other digital products online to customers worldwide.

Clicking on the buy button on a Buy page will link you to their secure website to make your payment and receive your download link. The padlock symbol in your web browser indicates that you are using a secure encrypted page.

We do not collect, handle or store your payment method details. That information is provided directly to FastSpring, who process and securely store your data in the U.S. The use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy. FastSpring is fully compliant with the UK and EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
Will my personal details be passed on to other companies?

Here at Topdisk Ltd (the owner of www.plantingplanner.com) we will not pass your personal details on to any other company, apart from FastSpring, the company we have chosen to handle ecommerce transactions and downloads for us.

FastSpring is a leading ecommerce company specialising in digital downloads, based in California and Amsterdam. Thousands of companies use FastSpring to sell their software and other digital products online to customers worldwide.

FastSpring also has a strict privacy policy - the use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy, and they are fully compliant with the UK and EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).
Can I request a refund for the “Home Gardeners” version of the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner?
We hope you are delighted with the PlantingPlanner but, if you have any problems with it, don’t hesitate to contact us.

In line with industry standards, we cannot offer a refund for our downloadable software - since you already have the software and product/licence key, and there is nothing that can be returned.

This is not a problem with the Professional version of our software, since it is available by subscription, which you can cancel at any time. However, the Home Gardener version of our software is a one-off purchase and the above returns restriction applies.

We recommend that, before you purchase, you read carefully how the PlantingPlanner works and watch our videos to make sure this is the right product for you:
- the introductory video
- the more detailed demo video.

PlantingPlanner Home Gardener Version FAQs

How can I give the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner as a present?
The Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner makes a fun gift for a gardener - experienced or beginner.

If you want a present which can be unwrapped, we would suggest the following:
1. buy a small USB memory stick
2. purchase the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner download
3. copy the downloaded PlantingPlanner “installer” file on to the memory stick to give as a present.
The Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner download “installer” file is less than half a gigabyte in size, and will fit onto a small 1GB memory stick. A memory stick that size only costs a couple of pounds. You can also buy fancy looking memory sticks at a bit of a premium, but they might make a more fun looking present.

When a customer orders the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner download they are sent two emails: one is the receipt, and the second contains the download link, product key and install instructions.

The program must be downloaded to a computer within 7 days – and from there it can be copied to the memory stick.

The second email with the download link, product code and install instructions can be forwarded on to the recipient of the present – and they would use the product key and install instructions to install the program. They won’t need to click the download link, since they will already have the program on the memory stick – and so there is no need to worry about the 7-day expiry limit on the download link.

PlantingPlanner Professional Version FAQs

When are my subscription payments taken for the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro?

When you subscribe to the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro, you need to enter your payment details. However, we offer the first month free of charge*, so the first payment will not be taken until 30 days later.

You can cancel your subscription at any time, during or after the free trial period. We will send you a reminder a few days before your first payment. If you cancel during the free trial period, no payment will be taken and your licence to use the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner software will terminate immediately.

After the one month free period, payments are taken quarterly, in advance, at the start of each 3 month period. If you cancel during a 3 month period, the subscription ends at the end of the current period and no further payments are taken.

* The first month free offer only applies to the first subscription you take out.
How do I change my payment details for my Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro subscription?

If you have a subscription for the PlantingPlanner Pro, you can easily and securely update your payment details online from this website. Go to the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro Account Management page and follow the instructions.

NOTE: You can also get to the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro Account Management page by clicking on the icon located in the top-right corner of most pages on this website.
How do I cancel my subscription for the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro?

You can easily cancel your PlantingPlanner Pro Subscription from this website. Go to the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro Account Management page and follow the instructions.

NOTE: You can also get to the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner Pro Account Management page by clicking on the icon located in the top-right corner of most pages on this website.

You can cancel your subscription at any time, during or after the initial one month free trial period. If you cancel during the free trial period, no payment will be taken and your licence to use the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner software will terminate immediately.

After the one month free period, payments are taken quarterly, in advance, at the start of each 3 month period. If you cancel during a 3 month period, the subscription ends at the end of the current period and no further payments are taken.
Can I export my plan to a PDF?
Your plan can be exported to a PDF document using the “Microsoft Print to PDF” feature built into Windows® 10.

The Microsoft Print to PDF feature appears like another printer in the list of available printers when you select the Print... command in the PlantingPlanner’s File menu - but, instead of being sent to a physical printer, your plan is instead saved as a PDF document on your computer. Windows will prompt you to enter a name and location for the new PDF file it will create.

If the “Microsoft Print to PDF” is not shown in the list of available printers, you will need to enable it. This is easily done - just follow the steps given below:
1. In the Search Window in the Task bar (bottom-left, next to the Windows Start button) type in “Turn Windows features on or off”.
2. In the search results, click on the Turn Windows features on or off. This opens the pop-up Windows Features dialog box containing a list of optional Window® 10 features.
3. Find the Microsoft Print to PDF feature in the list, and ensure it is checked.
4. Restart your computer.

PlantingPlanner FAQs

Which countries is the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner suitable for?

The Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner is geared towards the temperate climate and plants found in the UK, from the milder southwest England to the cooler climate of north eastern Scotland.

However, customers successfully use it in other countries with similar climates, such as other northern European countries, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

The vast majority of the plants in the built-in encyclopaedia are available worldwide, although you may need to substitute a named variety for one more widely available in your area - your local garden centre can guide you.

Websites, such as the Invasive Plants Atlas of the United States, can advise you of plant varieties that may be invasive in your area - again your local garden centre should be able to assist you.
Is there a 3D “perspective view” in the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner?

The Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner does not have a 3D-view. Other programs intended for designing the layout of your garden often have a 3D “perspective” view that can be helpful to get an impression of the overall effect of your design.

However, the PlantingPlanner focuses instead on the horticultural side of gardening - i.e. creating the planting design. It generates planting plans, allows you to experiment with colours and styles, and finds the best plants for your garden's growing conditions.

For each planting plan you create, the Weatherstaff PlantingPlanner provides you with a tailored Maintenance Calendar and detailed plant information.
Can I add my own plants to the PlantingPlanner?
User Plants

If you have plants you want to add to your plan which are missing from the built-in encyclopaedia, you can create your own plants, known as “User Plants”. You can include attributes such as seasonal colour, height, spread, hardiness, etc – along with your own photos. You don’t need to add a lot of details to create a User Plant – just a name, a colour and height/spread will do – all other attributes are optional, and the growing conditions (soil, light, etc.) default to the values you specified for the border.

You can go back and edit your User Plants to amend or add more details whenever you want.

When you choose to create a User Plant, it is treated the same way as a plant in the PlantingPlanner's built-in encyclopaedia. It will be automatically selected for inclusion in a generated plan if it is more suitable than other plants – and you can select it as a replacement for an existing plant in a plan, or choose it when positioning plants (on the Positioned Plants in the Home Gardener Version and the Designer screen in the Professional Version) before, or after, generating a plan. It will act and appear as if part of the encyclopaedia.

User Plants are stored differently for the two versions of the PlantingPlanner:
- Home Gardener Version
  A User Plant is saved within the plan (i.e. in the PlantingPlanner “plan” file) in which it was created – so it will not be available in a different “plan” file. You have to create the User Plants you want for each plan.
- Professional Version
  
  In this version of the PlantingPlanner, User Plants you create are stored in a “central” location on your computer, rather than within each individual plan. This allows them be used in any plan you create.
To find out more about creating User Plants, press the <F1> key (when the PlantingPlanner is running) and in the popup Help window, search for “User Plant” in the help index.

Flower border with delicate white, purple and pink Erigeron karvinskianus daisy-like flowers

Frequently Asked Questions

Technical FAQs

Online Shopping FAQs

PlantingPlanner Home Gardener Version FAQs

PlantingPlanner Professional Version FAQs

PlantingPlanner FAQs

Other Questions