If you have n’t yet seen this calendar month ’s feature clause , “ Oh No , What ’s amiss with my Plant?”I would highly urge reading it before you continue . It is a comprehensive templet to the variety of on-line help uncommitted to the gardener facing that perennial question ( no pun mean ): “ What ’s amiss with this flora ? ” Most of the resources discussed in that clause address this inquiry for both decorative and edible plants . In my own research into apps and online imagination , I describe a few that would be of particular stake to ornamental gardeners , especially those assay help with garden design .
Most of us are still figuring out how to incorporate native into our gardens . If you ’re face for intention assist for that endeavor , I recommend a downloadable book titledNative industrial plant for the Small Yard : tardily , Beautiful Home Gardens that Support the Local Ecology , developed by Lehigh Gap Nature Center of Slatington , Pennsylvania , and written by one of its staffer , Kate Brandes , an environmental scientist who ’s been a Master Gardener with Penn State Extension . There ’s also a related podcast atBackyard Ecology.net .
For more aboriginal plant designing templet , check outRESOURCES / Anne Arundel Watership Stewards , which features aConservationLandscape Design Toolwith guide in multiple sizes ( 60 sq.ft . , 90 sq . ft . , 120 sq.ft . , 180 sq.ft ) for the following types of designs :
Once you prefer a type of design , you ’ll be presented with soil and Dominicus exposure options , along with detailed plant and materials lists and installment instruction , plus a template like the one pictured below . The Watershed Stewards of Anne Arundel are a very busy group ! Read more about their efforts on the website , AAWSA.org .
I discover the Watershed Stewards while look for native garden blueprint resource at the Plant Northern Virginia Natives website , a part of thePlant Virginia Natives.orggroup . One of the many resourcefulness offered there is thePlant NOVA Natives / Quickstart Guide , which , in addition to directing reader to the AAWSA design tool , include a couple pollinator garden pattern template . Be sure to also check out the wide and well - curated lean of resources for native plant landscape gardening offered at the Plant Virginia Natives site . The Resources About Landscaping With Native Plantspage includes a list of website , tools , Holy Scripture , videos , and podcasts from highly - involve expert and administration . And check out theYard Design Toolin that list , which is designed to help holding owners in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed create a plan to install a Rain Garden or Conservation Landscape in their yard . It even e-mail a Planting Plan to you when you terminate !
One of my new favorite websites is theBugGuide . Net . That ’s mostly because insects are playing a bigger role in my garden , a growth predicted by climate scientists . My coneflower ( Echinacea ) , once a problem - gratis pillar of my cheery garden , are raggedy , hole - covered shadows of their former selves — and it seems to be more than just a escargot problem . I find myself analyse pickle in the leave of many plants and eye unusual insects throughout my gardens . If I do n’t bang for sure that it ’s a good insect , I get service from the BugGuide — a turgid online residential area patronize by Iowa State University ’s Department of Entomology . It features a “ Clickable Guide ” for identification and allows you to post a photo on the “ ID Request ” pageboy , where a fellow member who recognize “ your ” insect can comment . Frankly , it can be fun just to look at the recently - submitted photos underID Requests ; of late there have been some cool close - ups of cicadas .
APPS
This was my first foray into the existence of horticulture apps , which is clear an expanding field . I should remark at the outset that all references to commercial ware or trade names do NOT incriminate endorsement by Piedmont Master Gardeners or the Virginia Cooperative Extension or bias against those not mentioned .
There are severalplant designation apps . For a detailed follow-up and assessment of these apps by a scientist in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State , say “ works designation ? There ’s an app for that — actually several ! ” atMichigan State Extension . Dr. Hill test the apps with photos of unfolding ornamental , grasses , and weed seedlings . Which apps score highest?PictureThisandiNaturalist . She encourages all drug user of apps to substantiate the identification with a reputable source , such as government or university sites . The most reliable way to explore is by using the scientific name ( Romance genus and species ) .
TheiNaturalistapp ( Android / Apple IOS ) can help you discover both plant and animals . This app is a joint go-ahead of the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society . I plan to apply it with my telephone on hiking and even walks in my own curtilage . With iNaturalist , you could photograph your observations of living things , share them with others on the app , and get designation helper from expert , plus you ’ll see location where others have seen the same matter .
If amobile garden journalsounds appealing , you might want to assay this free app : Gardenize(Android / Apple IOS ) . This app allows nurseryman to make notes and tot their own photos for each of their plants and garden . The photos can be annotated , and you may describe on them with a drawing off tool . This app also has a Facebook - expressive style social media characteristic : you may use it to relate with garden ally , share plant information , and take in a newsworthiness provender . I have not prove this app myself .
I did try theLeafDoctorapp , hop it would provide a quick diagnosing of leaf spot . As it twist out , the app is designed tomeasure the extent of diseased tissue paper , which can help in monitor the effectuality of a treatment . In any event , it was trickier to use than I had look . Then I fall upon that the tool I was hop-skip for — a diagnosing base alone on a photo of a diseased leaf — was still largely in the region of science fabrication . But pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence ( AI ) and machine eruditeness are busily developing such apps . break out the clause about the high school bookman who developed a car learning app called PlantMD to help her female parent identify disease on her blush wine , Student Develops an AI App that Diagnoses Plant Diseases , University of Georgia News ( 2019 ) . Then there ’s the AI app developed by Penn State scientist to facilitate cassava farmers in Africa , who can now “ wave their sound in front of a cassava starch foliage ” to prevail a diagnosing and treatment options . study about it atPlantVillage / Penn State University .
Until these AI apps are more wide usable , the skillful apps currently available for help in name plant problems are part of thePurdue Plant Doctor App Suite .
Several apps are available for assistance with garden plan . TheiScapeapp allows you to create avirtual landscape painting design , which sounds like fun . You begin by taking photos of your web site and download them ; after that you may add plants and landscape painting features and move them around . For a abbreviated telecasting evince how it work , go to the website , and hit the “ Watch Video ” button . This app is not cheap ; there ’s a pared - down version that ’s free , but to wreak with more than a few plants and other feature , you have to pay almost $ 30 / month .
Apps and internet site can be very worthful pecker for gardeners , and they can also ply a fun new way to interact with nature and teach more about what ’s living in your garden .
SOURCES :
Pest Management Guide 2021 / Va. Coop . Ext .
“ Garden Apps , ” Clemson Coop . Ext . Home & Garden Information Center , Clemson HGIC
Purdue Plant Doctor App Suite , Purdue University
Alliance for the Bay / Design Your Yard Online
“ works identification ? There ’s an app for that — actually several!”Michigan State University.edu
