Gardening Apps
Stop forgetting to water. Diagnose sick plants. Plant at the right time.
Planta
Free; $36/yr PremiumReminds you when each plant needs water. Light-meter tool checks if your plant gets enough sun. Beautiful interface.
Free version is solid.
Vera by Bloomscape
FreeDiagnostic — take a photo of a sick plant, get likely problem and fix.
No subscription.
PictureThis
Free trial; $30/yrIdentifies any plant + tells you how to care for it. (Also good for outdoor wildflowers.)
Combines ID + care.
Gardenia
FreePlant info + companion planting suggestions for vegetable gardens.
Best free pick for veggie growers.
Almanac.com / Old Farmer's Almanac
FreeWhen to plant, when to harvest, frost dates by zip code. Vegetables, herbs, flowers.
A treasure of plain-English garden wisdom.
Free gardening references
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — type your zip code at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov to find your zone. Tells what survives winter.
- Old Farmer\'s Almanac (almanac.com) — when to plant tomatoes, peppers, etc., for your zone.
- Your county Extension office — most US counties have a free Cooperative Extension service. Free advice from real horticulturists. Search "[your county] cooperative extension".
- Master Gardener volunteers — free help via the same Extension offices.
Smart garden gear worth knowing
- Smart sprinkler controller (Rachio, Rain Bird LNK Wi-Fi) — $100-200. Skips watering on rainy days. Can save 30% on water bill.
- Soil moisture meter — $20 stick that tells you whether to water. Cheap and surprisingly accurate.
- Smart bird feeder camera — $150-300 (Bird Buddy, Birdfy). Identifies birds and emails you photos.
Where to start
If you forget to water — start with Planta\'s free version. If you want to grow vegetables — bookmark almanac.com and look up your zone\'s frost dates. If a plant is sick — open Vera (free) and let it diagnose.