Many of us turn to gardening to get away from modern technology. It’s a chance to put our phones down, get our hands in the dirt, and listen to the sounds of nature. Ao although it might seem like an odd combination, pairing gardening with technology actually has many benefits.
There are apps for everything, including plenty of gardening apps and even online gardening games, like the wildly popular Roblox Grow a Garden game that our staff tested. The right apps can help you leverage tons of expert gardening knowledge, from design to plant identification to sowing times. But with all the options out there, it can be hard to determine which ones are worth your time and money.
Our gardening experts dug through the app stores on our phones to find the best gardening apps. Here’s our list of the top apps to improve your gardening game IRL.
How to Choose a Gardening App
Keep these important factors in mind when choosing a gardening app:
- Look at reviews to be sure you’re using an app others find helpful.
- Determine who is behind the app. Are they gardening experts? One of the big dangers of AI for gardening is misinformation. AI chatbots don’t actually know anything, they just regurgitate information that may or may not be true. Only use apps and websites with real gardening experts behind them and be careful if you ever try to use ChatGPT for gardening.
- A useful app should be a good value. Some are worth paying for, but there are many useful free apps, too.
- Choose apps based on your needs. Some are best at identifying plants, while others are good for landscaping design.
- Make sure the app you choose works on your mobile operating system.
Best Gardening Apps
Don’t be afraid to use more than one app to meet your needs, especially if they’re free. Here are some of the best gardening apps we found to help get you started.
1. Purdue Plant Doctor
There are several separate Plant Doctor apps from Purdue University, all of which are useful for troubleshooting in the garden. The source of information behind these apps is reputable and run by experts.
They are low-cost or free and harness scientific information to help you identify common tree pests and diseases, what pests are affecting your perennials, and what cultural practices could save your plants. These apps include high-quality images to help you make easy identifications.
The only drawback is that these apps are only available on iOS phones and tablets. But if you’re an Android user, you can still access tons of helpful information on the Purdue Plant Doctor website.
Get the Purdue Tomato Doctor app in the Apple App Store
Get the Purdue Turf Doctor app in the Apple App Store
2. Seed to Spoon
Seed to Spoon is an app for planning a companion vegetable garden. Choosing the right plants to place together can boost the health of your garden, but how do you know which plant goes where?
Use this app to input a plant and get instant information on what to grow with it, what to avoid, and why. It also provides other information, like planting times. Seed to Spoon is free but you can upgrade for access to more features, like an AI landscape design chatbot.
Get the Seed to Spoon app in the Google Play Store
Get the Seed to Spoon app in the Apple App Store
3. Planter
Whether you’re growing vegetables for the first time or you’ve been growing your own food for years, any gardener can benefit from this useful app. Planter can help you design a vegetable garden or figure out the perfect raised bed layout using a fun, drag-and-drop interface.
The graphics help you create a design, but the app also provides information on companion planting, seed varieties, planting schedules, and more. You might find the free version limiting, so consider upgrading for a better experience.
Get the Planter app in the Google Play Store
Get the Planter app in the Apple App Store
4. LeafSnap
Plant identification apps can be very useful in the garden. Is that a weed, a volunteer, or something else? What is that pretty flower in the park and can I grow it in my garden? Snap a picture of a plant and get answers to questions like these in seconds using LeafSnap.
You quickly get an identification, information about the plant, and a list of similar plants. Use it for free or upgrade to premium for added features.
Get the LeafSnap app in the Google Play Store
Get the LeafSnap app in the Apple App Store
5. Planta
Planta is the app for proud houseplant parents. It’s specifically designed to help you better care for your indoor plants. The app database includes more than 20,000 plants with detailed information on how to take care of them. It also includes a watering reminder and a plant identification tool.
Enjoy the free app or pay to upgrade to the premium level for more features that will help you learn how to care for houseplants.
Get the Planta app in the Google Play Store
Get the Planta app in the Apple App Store
6. iScape
If you’re looking for a pro-level gardening design app, this is the one for you. iScape lets you use pictures of your garden and home to envision and plan individual beds or a whole new garden. The augmented reality feature is particularly cool. You can share designs to collaborate and create materials lists.
Pay for the premium subscription to get the most out of this app or to connect with a professional landscape designer who can give you more specialized advice and planning. It’s not the cheapest app on the list, but it can save you money and time if you have a big job to do. It can also help you avoid some common garden makeover mistakes.
Get the iScape app in the Google Play Store
Get the iScape app in the Apple App Store
7. Gardenize
This is a fun app if you like to keep a garden journal or diary. It allows you to store images of your plants and record ideas and notes. Because it’s a digital diary, it keeps time and date stamps for all your entries that help you make changes to the garden over time.
Record everything you do in the garden and use the information later to grow and develop the space. There is a subscription fee, but you can sample Gardenize with a free trial to see if you like it first.
Get the Gardenize app in the Google Play Store
Get the Gardenize app in the Apple App Store
8. Smart Gardener
Smart Gardener is an inexpensive app that is useful for starting a vegetable garden. It uses information like how many people are in your home, your hardiness zone, your frost dates, and more to create a plan. It will tell you what to plant and where and when. You’ll then get a weekly list of tasks for sowing, transplanting, and even how much money you've saved growing your own veggies.
Get the Smart Gardener app in the Google Play Store
Get the Smart Gardener app in the Apple App Store
From free gardening apps to paid apps and premium upgrades, there’s something here for every budget and every gardening need. Have fun playing around with these and other gardening apps, and keep only the ones you really love.
