Using ChatGPT to Plan Our Front Yard Landscaping

When we bought our home almost five years ago, landscaping was one of those “we’ll get to it later” projects. Between updating the inside of the house and tackling other priorities, the front yard kept getting pushed down the list. But this year, I finally felt ready to give our curb appeal some attention.

The problem? I had no idea where to start. I wanted color, low-maintenance perennials, and if possible plants that would help pollinators thrive. I also live in central Ohio, where the weather and growing conditions can be tricky, so I needed something realistic for my zone.

That’s when I thought: Why not ask ChatGPT for help?

How I Used ChatGPT for Landscaping Inspiration

I started by giving ChatGPT a prompt:

“Hi! Could you provide a landscaping mockup of the front of our home? I live in central Ohio and the front of our home gets morning sun. Please select perennial plants that work for my zone and are low maintenance. Bonus points for pollinators or native plants!”

Within minutes, I had mockups showing different planting ideas for the front of our house. Each version had a slightly different mix of plants, colors, and textures and honestly, it was the first time I could see what our yard could look like without standing overwhelmed in the garden center aisles.

From Mockup to Planting Plan

Once I had the visuals, I asked ChatGPT to take it a step further and create a planting plan. It outlined exactly which plants to use, how many, and where they could go. Suddenly, I had a blueprint instead of just a Pinterest board of ideas.

Here’s what I loved most about the process:

• Confidence in plant choices. ChatGPT factored in my sun exposure, climate, and desire for pollinator-friendly perennials.

• Visual clarity. The mockups let me compare styles side-by-side before committing.

• Practical next steps. The planting plan felt like something I could bring straight to the garden center.

Ready to Get Planting

Seeing these ideas laid out made me feel like I could actually do this... that a beautiful, colorful, low-maintenance front yard is within reach. I walked away from this little experiment feeling inspired and ready to head to the garden center.

If you’ve been stuck on landscaping decisions like I was, ChatGPT might just be the planning partner you didn’t know you needed. It won’t replace the expertise of a professional landscaper, but it’s a fun, low-pressure way to brainstorm and bring ideas to life visually before you dig into the dirt.

So tell me, which option would you choose for our front yard? 🌸