The Best Gardening Apps to Download Before Spring Comes!

Spring is just around the corner so it is the perfect time to start preparing our gardens for all the colorful blooms it brings. There is just so much to do and you’ll  have to agree with us that a little help is always welcomed.

Today we are talking gardening applications that are free, easy to use and oh so helpful. Whether you are looking for essential data, like what season a plant blooms or similar or you need inspiration for the design of your garden there are applications that will easily help you in the process.

 

Garden Compass Plant / Disease Identifier

By TeamSOA, Inc.

Description: If you have a plant, pest or disease you need identified…look no further. The Garden Compass Plant and Disease Identifier app allows you to take a photo and submit it to our team of expert horticultural garden advisors who will identify it for you, as well as provide you with specific product recommendations to resolve any problems you may have. As your photo passes up the queue you will be kept informed as to its progress. Learn more at  gardencompass.com

Download this app free for iPhone/iPad on itunes or for android here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garden Time Planner by Burpee

Description: The Garden Time app from Burpee is the perfect tool to help gardeners know when to sow, transplant and expect to harvest vegetables and herbs specific to their garden region. The app automatically creates a task list to notify the user when their next sow or transplant date arrives. Included within the app is a full database of plants, local weather, and links to how-to gardening videos.  Works best on Android 4.0 devices and above. Runs on Phone and Tablet Devices. Learn more at burpee.com

Download this app free for iPhone/iPad on itunes or for android here

Sprout it – Gardening ideas and tips, planting organic vegetables, herbs & fruits guide by Växa Design Group

Description: Grow Easy. Grow Smart. Sprout it® is a free app that grows with you! Grow your own fresh vegetables and herbs with Sprout it’s fully customized support. Select plants, schedule plantings and get detailed instructions, reminders and info when you need it most.

Here’s what you’ll get with the Sprout it app:

– Library of the most popular plants and varieties, so you can learn which vegetables and herbs are best for your garden and location

– Get inspired with themed gardens, projects and recipes

– Location-based intelligence to help you time plantings correctly based on your frost date

– Option to grow from seed, starter plants, sets and now including support for Miracle-Gro® Gro-ables® Seed Pods™

– Interactive milestones make sure your real garden matches your Sprout it garden – let Sprout it be your garden planner and toolkit whether you grow with natural, organic or conventional methods!

– Beautiful illustrations to help you visually track your garden’s progress

– Reminders, tips and information specific to your plants and your garden delivered at the right time, based on your planting dates and preferences

– Easy-to-read reference information for plant care, harvest, common problems and storage & cooking

– Completing your gardener profile helps us customize your experience

– Integrated weather information and alerts to help with protection and recovery when severe weather hits

– A single log-in offers access to your account across iPhone, iPad and responsive web platforms

Every garden is different and the Sprout it app supports growing a garden that’s right for your location and lifestyle—first-timer or experienced, conventional or organic, backyard or patio

Download this app free for iPhone/iPad on itunes or for android here

MyGarden

By TrendsCo. bvba

Description: The MyGarden App is the mobile version of the social network website for garden lovers MyGarden. It allows you to track your account, plants, friends and update your garden status.

Download this app free for iPhone/iPad on itunes or for android here

iScape Free

By Home Revivals llc

Description: Spectacular landscape designs made easy with iScape Free.

• “When you’re planning a new garden, or considering a change to an established one, it can be difficult to visualize the results. This is where iScape comes in handy.” – The NY Times

• “If you’re DIYing it, iScape makes it easy to plan out what to buy and how to put it all together. If you’re hiring a landscaper, the app can help you explore ideas and share your vision.” – Forbes

iScape Free gives you an opportunity to test drive the paid version at no charge. Upon user requests, we have provided individual categories available as In-App Purchases in case you do not need the entire iScape Database. If you are going to purchase multiple categories, please note that upgrading to the paid version is the better deal.

The landscape design app allows you to see your options before the work is done – and most importantly, before the money is spent. Simply take a picture of your house and start bringing your vision to life!

Download this app free for iPhone/iPad on itunes or for android here

 

The Best Gardening Apps to Download Before Spring Comes!

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Phlox

 

With brightly colored flowers and a lovely fragrance Phlox is a summer wildflower, an essential item in any garden. Whether used as a ground cover or towering perennial, evergreen or deciduous, phlox comes in an overwhelming array of colors, heights, forms and blooming times. Perhaps best of all, it’s a terrific companion plant. In shades of blue, white and pink, for example, they tone down hot yellows and oranges and buddy up to other cool-coloured perennials. With such a wide range of phlox available, there’s one for most garden situations, from dry to moist soils, in full sun to full shade. Choose the variety that fits your garden space and enjoy its gorgeous star-shaped blossoms all summer long. Read on to learn how to plant, grow and care for phlox.

Varieties 

Different varieties of phlox serve different needs in the garden. Your local garden center or nursery can advise you on which species grow best in your area. All species of phlox produce flowers in a wide range of colors including white, pink, red, lavender and blue. Garden and meadow phlox are perfect for garden borders, since they grow quite wide and tall. Low-growing phlox varieties are perfect to use as ground cover in shady areas, especially as many are mildew-resistant.

Location

Although Phlox are low maintenance flowers that do well in most locations, most varieties will prefer full sun, but some are tolerant of partial or filtered shade. Find a location that works for the variety you have chosen. Keep in mind that Phlox grown in the shade often produce fewer flowers and they are also at increased risk for contracting a disease, so if you choose to plant phlox in the shade, look for a variety that is mildew-resistant.

Planting

Phlox plants prefer rich, porous soil with a layer of organic mulch. When watering, avoid wetting the foliage — a practice that spreads disease.If the area is wet, but not soaking, it should be fine for growing phlox.

You can plant phlox outdoors after all signs of frost have passed. Dig holes 6 to 24 inches apart depending on the species you are growing. You need to space shorter phlox varieties 6 to 12 inches apart, and taller species 12 to 24 inches apart. The holes should be twice as wide as the plants’ root balls] Set the phlox plants into the holes and pat soil around their bases. Water the phlox after planting.

Care

Keep phlox well watered throughout the growing season, from the base of the plant, rather than from the top. Avoid getting their leaves wet to decrease the chances that mold and mildew will form on the plants. Use well-rounded plant fertilizer which contains 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphate and 10 percent potash. Repeat a second application of the fertilizer when the plants are flowering.

 

Planting, Growing, and Caring for Phlox