Landscaping - A Quick Takeoff How To

Use these steps to set up accurate counts and area measurements for landscaping plans.

Step 1: Identify the plant types you need to count. In this example, we have three: Yucca, Sage, and Hawthorne.

Step 2: Click the Count tool in the toolbar.

Step 3: Name your count—for example, "yucca"—and pick a color that’s easy to see, such as red.

Step 4: Open the Symbols menu and select a symbol shape, like a star.

Increase its size for visibility on your plan.

Click Set to apply.

Step 5: Move your cursor over each Yucca on the plan and click to stamp it with your selected symbol.

Step 6: When done with Yucca, turn off the count tool by toggling the Continue switch on the right.

Step 7: Set up a new count for Sage. Click Count again.

Name it (e.g., "sage"), choose a symbol, adjust color and size, and click Set.

Step 8: Stamp all Sage plants using your new symbol. Count appears in the Measurements panel on the right.

Step 9: Repeat for Hawthorne. Turn off the current tool, click Count, name it, pick a color, choose a symbol, set the size, and click Set.

Step 10: Stamp each Hawthorne on the plan.

Now measure square footage for buffalo grass areas.

Step 1: Select a new Area measurement in multipoint mode, ideal for irregular shapes.

Step 2: Name the area measurement, use a visible (light) color, and click Set.

Step 3: Place your cursor at the starting point and click once to begin.

Step 4: Move along the boundary, clicking at each direction change. For arcs, make small clicks while holding the space bar to create a smooth curve and disable the snap-to-angle feature.

Step 5: Continue around the area, clicking at each arc and direction change, holding the space bar as needed.

Step 6: Once you close the shape, double-click to finish. The area is measured—here, it's 514 square feet.

If you have more areas to measure, continue.

Step 7: Pan the view if needed (right-click and drag), then click the Continue switch to stay in measuring mode.

Step 8: Start the next area measurement at a new corner, repeat the previous steps for corners and arcs using small clicks and the space bar.

Step 9: Double-click the last point to finish. The total area appears in the Measurements panel.

By following these steps, you can quickly tally plants and measure areas for landscaping projects in PlanHub. This process saves time and ensures precise estimates every time.