A few weeks back, my husband, the resident green thumb, noticed that a pale, yellowish sprawl of flowerpot parasol () had seized our fiddle-leaf fig’s topsoil.
The mushrooms bloomed among and white and decidedly … gross. Ben promptly marched that houseplant outside. “Don’t call us. We’ll call you,” he hollered, as the door slammed shut behind our once-beloved Ficus lyrata.
I was ready to accept defeat, but Ben scoured the internet for a cure – or an explanation, at the very least. While his phone screen shimmered with suggestions, our teensy tree perished alone on the patio.
Technology has crept into one of the oldest hobbies known to humanity. In 2024, for example, garden-industry research firm found that 56% of growers use computer apps to assist their efforts. Most of these tech-savvy greenskeepers are seeking care instructions; nearly half use apps to design their dream layout, identify diseases, and/or track weather.
It’s easy to see the allure of a digital master gardener thatap on call 24/7 to tackle any botanical crisis, free of charge. And while most gardening apps do offer functional free versions – if you don’t mind all the ads –paid subscriptions are generally required to unlock a high-end experience with the full assortment of features, such as advanced disease diagnosis, large-scale garden mapping, and unlimited plant tracking.
Gardening apps can drain a phone battery lightning-fast, like aphids overrunning your tomatoes. Still, I found plenty of glowing web reviews for the most popular apps, including Gardenate, Gardenize, Gardroid, iNaturalist, PictureThis, and Planta. “These aren’t just some frivolous pieces of software, but essential tools that can change the way you nurture your garden,” reads one 2024 Medium article by gardening expert John Walker.
There are definitely positive applications to consider – we’ll get to those momentarily – but horticulture agent Karim Gharbi cautions gardeners to take app suggestions with “a big grain of salt.”
The device in your back pocket might be supporting your efforts – or it might be the very thing thatap leading you astray. According to the Colorado experts I interviewed, apps usually deliver surface-level results and are best used in conjunction with guidebooks and real people. Here’s what you need to know.
What apps get right
Identification is where gardening apps shine. Platforms like iNaturalist, PictureThis, and even Google Lens are generally good for basic plant identification. Upload a photo to one of these apps, and it returns a likely match in seconds.
“I love iNaturalist,” gushes Gharbi. In addition to its comprehensive identification algorithms, this app boasts a huge network of users, like Gharbi, who regularly review observations and offer corrections, giving you a direct line to knowledgeable experts. Plus, its regional feature is clutch for Colorado growers.
“Colorado is such a specific climate,” explains Julie Echter, vice president of Echter’s Nursery & Garden Center, 5150 Garrison St. If you’re going to rely on an app for gardening advice, make sure location settings and GPS are enabled so recommendations and alerts reflect your actual microclimate. (Many apps default to generic guidance based on hardiness zones, overlooking local soil types and other environmental factors.)
Relying too heavily on apps can short-circuit the development of a hobbyistap botanical knowledge and observation skills. Thatap why plant specialists at The Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins, 2145 Centre Ave., encourage home gardeners to try identifying plants themselves first. “Notice the plant, and observe its different features,” advises youth programs coordinator Britt Mowen, adding, “Try counting the petals on a flower, or checking to see how the leaves are arranged.”
If a thick field guide covering all the plants growing along the Front Range feels intimidating, apps can be useful, Mowen says. But always cross-reference app suggestions against other apps as well as physical tools. “I’d also recommend talking to a horticulturalist,” adds Mowen. As she puts it, “The apps get you to a certain point, but you can’t always get the final answer online.”
Plant ID apps struggle to distinguish between closely related species. And here’s another catch: “No matter which app you use, the accuracy is only as good as the photo you take,” writes Master Gardener Karen Vanderwall in a Front Range article on plant ID apps.
Tech-savvy planning
Plant apps can also be useful for planning your garden. “The information is a bit more consistent in this realm,” Gharbi said, noting that apps can be a lifeline for gardeners baffled by succession planting. Just make sure the app accounts for year-to-year seasonal fluctuations we’re seeing with climate change, he adds. Niko Kirby, senior director of education and engagement at , notes that gardening apps can also guide users in companion planting.
Two words to the wise, though: Many planning apps don’t allow for custom garden shapes, and AI-powered gardening assistants can hallucinate information by suggesting impossible garden layouts and/or recommending plants that don’t exist.
“If you feel supported by tech, I think it can be really useful,” Kirby says. “But you can also do the work yourself, with a pen and piece of paper.”
“Hand drawing is great, even for laypeople,” agrees Kristine Johnson, a Boulder-based co-coordinator at Wild Ones Front Range. She recommends using graph paper and notes that Google Earth can help with initial measurements.
Johnson skews old-school, but even she uses sun-positioning tools liketo learn how the angle of the sun and the shadows in her yard will shift over the course of the growing season. She also recommendsfor detailed climate data on specific cities.
Diagnostic dilemmas
“I wouldn’t trust an app to diagnose problems,” warns Echter. While apps can sometimes be helpful for identifying very basic issues, many fail to accurately diagnose complex pest infestations and nutrient deficiencies. In certain cases, they may even suggest incorrect care instructions that can exacerbate issues.
When it comes to plant problems, Echter says the most common culprit is human error. “The two biggest things are overwatering and underwatering, and I’d estimate thatap why 90% of Colorado plants die,” she offers.
But many plant symptoms look alike. Yellowing leaves, for example, can signal both overwatering and underwatering. Don’t even get Gharbi started on shepherd’s crook, where a plantap tip curls over like a hook as it dies. That symptom can signal several problems, including cold damage, fire blight, viral infection, or drought. And many insect and mite pests are tiny – difficult to see with the naked eye and even harder to photograph clearly enough for an app to analyze.
For troubleshooting, home gardeners can contact their local CSU Extension office to speak with a master gardener, who can evaluate photos or samples and, if necessary, escalate the issue to specialists.
Local nurseries are another valuable – and often underrated – free resource for diagnosis, Echter said. Experienced staff can often spot problems quickly and recommend solutions before plants decline further.
Successful gardening requires a certain level of time-tested intuition and hands-on experience. Are these apps a hoax? Hardly. But should they be the final word in growing? Definitely not. The most successful planters use apps as a jumping-off point, then look to trained experts for human verification. By all means, let technology guide you – just don’t forget to put down the phone and get your hands dirty. In our increasingly digital world, the most rewarding click is still the sound of a trowel tapping cold, spring dirt.
Local apps for Colorado growers
The apps listed below were specifically developed in Colorado, focusing on native species and local ecosystems. If you’re going to play around with tech, don’t forget about these homegrown options.
- A drag-and-drop garden planning app designed right here in Colorado
- This free shrub and tree identification app was developed by a group of CSU faculty and Extension specialists
- Meant for identifying wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and ferns, High Country Apps delivers this low-cost, educational guide in tandem with the Colorado Native Plant Society
- A comprehensive guide to wetland plants that includes identification, ecology, and conservation information.
Jamie Siebrase is an author, mom, and outdoors enthusiast based in Littleton.
